CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Marriage: Licensing

Frank Field: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners how much of the £2,148,860 gained in fee income from issuing the Archbishop's Special Licence for marriages has been received by the Church Commissioners.

Stuart Bell: None.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Departments: Disciplinary Proceedings

David Simpson: To ask the Leader of the House how many grievance procedures have been initiated in his Office in the last 12 months.

Jack Straw: None.

Departments: Sexual Harassment

David Simpson: To ask the Leader of the House how many complaints of sexual harassment have been investigated in his Office in the last 12 months; and how many complaints have been upheld.

Jack Straw: None.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Air Pollution: Kirby

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether there were any  (a) incidents involving and  (b) prosecutions in which proceedings are not ongoing relating to harmful emissions at the Sonae factory in Kirby in each of the last four years.

Ben Bradshaw: Knowsley borough council is responsible for regulating emissions to the atmosphere from this factory under Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations 2000.
	The council advises that the number of incidents (both complaints and reported incidents) and prosecutions relating to this factory in the last four years are as follows:
	
		
			   Complaints  Reported incidents  Prosecutions 
			 2004 278 49 3 
			 2005 311 152 0 
			 2006 196 24 0 
			 2007 104 8 0 
		
	
	The subject of complaints against Sonae include odour, dust, smoke, fumes, and noise from the Kirby factory. Knowsley borough council advises that a small proportion of the complaints were subsequently found to be unconnected with Sonae. The company has also challenged an unspecified number of complaints.
	The number of incidents shown in the table reflects the formal reports which Sonae has submitted. In accordance with their authorisation requirement, Sonae is required to report incidents likely to have an effect on the community. The three prosecutions in 2004 concerned a failure to monitor emissions, failure to comply with an enforcement notice, and failure to comply with an information notice. In total, these resulted in £13,000 worth of fines.
	Factories such as this have the potential to emit various substances including oxides of sulphur and nitrogen, particulate matter, lead, volatile organic compounds, isocyanates, and aldehydes.

Avian Influenza: Disease Control

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the testing of live poultry for avian influenza in the protection and surveillance zones in Suffolk referred to in his Department's submission to the European Commission on 5 March was completed before permission was granted to reopen the Bernard Matthews plant in Suffolk; what type of live poultry was tested; what the location was of each of the premises that were tested; and how many birds were tested in each.

Ben Bradshaw: During the outbreak, the State Veterinary Service (SVS, now Animal Health) carried out extensive surveillance in the restricted areas working closely with local authorities in Suffolk and Norfolk and other agencies. A full breakdown of the type and numbers of poultry tested along with a map of their locations can be found on pages 16 and 17 of the final epidemiology report into the outbreak we published on 19 April. Copies are available in the Library of the House.
	This testing of live poultry within the protection and surveillance zones was completed by 26 February. The Bernard Matthews slaughterhouse plant in Holton was re-opened on 12 February. However, this was a separate premises from the site of the outbreak (although adjacent to it) and was placed under appropriate restrictions only while it was used to cull the birds. The meat processing plant which was also adjacent to the infected premises was never placed under restrictions. Once culling was completed, it was re-licensed to operate only after being thoroughly cleansed and disinfected and inspected by the SVS and Meat Hygiene Service so that it could not pose any disease risk to either poultry or humans.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to reply to the letter of 2 October 2006 from the hon. Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk on the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.

Ben Bradshaw: The hon. Member's letter was transferred to the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department as it concerns a devolved issue.

Packaging: Waste Disposal

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what work he is undertaking with  (a) food processing companies,  (b) supermarkets and  (c) confectionery manufacturers to reduce packaging waste.

Ben Bradshaw: We have already introduced two sets of regulations to encourage producers (including retailers) to minimise, recycle and recover packaging and reduce packaging waste.
	The Packaging Regulations have helped to reduce the amount of packaging used around products. However, more still needs to be done to reduce the amount of packaging and packaging waste being generated in the first place. We have asked the Advisory Committee on Packaging to work with industry to find solutions to this problem and recommend ways of encouraging businesses to further reduce the amount of packaging they use.
	My Department continues to engage with retailers and the food industry to reduce the amount of food and packaging waste generated by the industry itself and by consumers.
	In particular, DEFRA's Food Industry Sustainability Strategy (FISS), published in April 2006, challenges the food manufacturing sector to reduce its own waste by 15-20 per cent. by 2010. 13 major grocery retailers (representing 92 per cent. of the UK grocery sector) have also signed up to the Courtauld Commitment, agreeing to work with the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) in order to:
	(i) design out packaging waste growth by 2008;
	(ii) deliver absolute reductions in packaging waste by March 2010; and
	(iii) identify ways to tackle the problem of food waste.
	Each retailer signed up to the Commitment has been developing its own programme of work with WRAP to reduce packaging and packaging waste. A number of retailers have now announced their own specific performance targets on waste and other environmental issues.
	In addition, several food and drink brands and manufacturers, including some confectionary manufacturers, have now signed up to the Courtauld Commitment. WRAP will shortly be announcing further details.
	WRAP also provides technical and financial support to retailers and suppliers through an innovation fund. This is helping to identify ways of reducing the weight of primary packaging and the cost of production and transportation, mainly through research and development and innovative packaging design.
	Importantly, DEFRA, working with WRAP and the devolved administrations, has recently secured the agreement of UK retailers to reduce the overall environmental impact of their carrier bags by 25 per cent. by the end of 2008.

Rabies: Disease Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to change the existing arrangements for the control of rabies.

Ben Bradshaw: DEFRA is currently carrying out a review of rabies import policy to ensure that UK controls on all rabies-susceptible mammals are proportionate and sustainable.
	The review is nearing completion. The evidence received so far from government vets, officials and veterinary risk assessments indicates that our current controls may no longer be proportionate to the risk of rabies entering the UK. Therefore, we may need to consider modernising processes and regulation in this area. Our controls must also be consistent with current thinking on better regulation. I have requested further views before reaching conclusions.

Sewage

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to ensure that back-up pumps are available in circumstances where primary sewage pumps fail and effluent is discharged into rivers, watercourses or the open sea; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Under the Water Resources Act 1991, the Environment Agency requires all sewage pumping stations to have duty pumps and standby pumps that are capable of pumping the received flow in the event of a pump failure. This is a condition of consent to discharge, and it is the sewerage undertaker's responsibility to ensure that their pumps are fully operational at all times.

Water

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many households in England were subject to water restrictions in 2006.

Ian Pearson: During 2006, about 16 million people were subject to restrictions on water use. In most cases, this involved hosepipe bans. However, a single drought order, allowing restrictions to be placed on non-essential uses of water, was partially implemented by Sutton and East Surrey Water.

TRANSPORT

Aviation: Exhaust Emissions

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential effects on health of emissions from aircraft.

Gillian Merron: Airport operators are expected to undertake appropriate health impact assessments when bringing forward any expansion plans. Air Quality Assessments Supporting the Government's White Paper was published alongside The Future of Air Transport in December 2003; this covers Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Birmingham airports. The document is on the internet at http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/whitepapers/air/docs/airqualityassessmentssupport5665.
	Future levels of ambient air quality are being studied as part of the Project for the Sustainable Development of Heathrow. The Air Quality Technical Report, published in July 2006 found that the key pollutants are nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM10), for which there are EU limit values aimed at reducing harmful effects on human health and the environment as a whole.

Bicycles: Accidents

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) male and  (b) female cyclists were killed in accidents involving heavy goods vehicles in the last three years for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of  (a) male and  (b) female pedal cyclists that have been killed in reported personal injury road accidents involving at least one heavy goods vehicles in each of the last three years for which figures are available is given in the table.
	
		
			  Male and female pedal cycle fatalities resulting from reported personal injury road accidents involving at least one heavy goods vehicle, GB 2003-05 
			   2003  2004  2005 
			 Male 14 15 23 
			 Female 12 7 3

Galileo Project

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his estimate is of the cost of the Galileo project.

Stephen Ladyman: In its Communication to the Council and Parliament of February 2004, which set out the components of the Galileo programme, the European Commission evaluated the costs of the current development and deployment stage as 3.2 billion. Subsequently, Vice-President Barrot stated in December 2006 that the overall financial exposure for the public side over the 20-year period of the public private partnership (PPP) concession contract would be around 8 billion.
	Given the lack of progress in the concession contract negotiations, the March 2007 Transport Council has asked the Commission to consider alternative scenarios for taking the project forward. As with the PPP these alternative scenarios will be assessed for cost, risk and affordability.
	Once the Council has taken a decision on these scenarios it is expected that the Commission will then bring forward a draft EC financial instrument on the funding of Galileo during 2007-13 for the Council and the European Parliament to ratify. There has been no political discussion of potential funding commitments for the public sector beyond 2013.

Park and Ride Schemes

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what  (a) financial and  (b) other support is offered to local authorities who wish to establish park and ride schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: Most schemes are funded through the integrated transport block, which the Department allocates to support local transport plans (LTPs). The funding is for local authorities to invest in transport capital works, including park and ride, according to their local plans and priorities. It totals 571 million for 2007-08.
	During the first LTP period (2001-06), local transport authorities in England (outside of London) spent a total of 72.5 million of LTP funding on improving 92 existing park and ride facilities and delivering 76 new park and ride schemes. In recognition of this, the Department gave credit in its assessment of delivery of the first local transport plans to those authorities that delivered substantial increases in park and ride facilities.

Railways: Smoking

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that rail companies inform passengers of the forthcoming smoking ban on stations.

Tom Harris: The Department of Health (DoH) is conducting a significant communications campaign aimed at the public to ensure maximum awareness of the smoke free legislation before its implementation on 1 July. The Department for Transport has discussed the issue of communication with rail passengers with ATOC and Network Rail and provided advice to DoH on issues such as enforcement and signage arrangements on the rail network.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa: Overseas Aid

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress the UK has made in meeting its commitment to double aid to Africa by 2010.

Hilary Benn: The UK Government are party to the European Union (EU) pledge to reach a collective target for the Overseas Development Assistance to Gross National Income ratio (ODA/GNI) of 0.56 per cent. by 2010, estimated to nearly double total aid between 2004 and 2010, with at least 50 per cent. of the increase going to Africa. The UK also announced a timetable to reach 0.7 per cent. ODA/GNI by 2013 and committed to double its bilateral spending in Africa between 2003-04 and 2007-08. The G8 Gleneagles 2005 communiqu stated that the commitments of the G8 and other donors would lead to an increase in ODA to Africa of $25 billion a year by 2010, more than doubling aid to Africa compared to 2004.
	The UK Government are on track to honour our commitments. Total ODA/GNI ratio increased from 0.36 per cent. in 2004 to 0.52 per cent. in 2006. Provisional figures show that UK ODA to sub-Saharan Africa increased from 1.2 billion in 2004 to 2.9 billion in 2006, with debt relief accounting for much of this increase. The Department for International Development's (DFID's) bilateral programme of aid to sub-Saharan Africa is set at 1.25 billion for 2007-08.
	ODA to sub-Saharan Africa from all donors of the Development Assistance Committee rose by $10 billion, or 59 per cent. in real terms, between 2004 and 2006. We will continue to engage with G8 and EU partners to encourage others also to keep to their aid volume commitments.

Departments: Consultants

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department paid to  (a) the Adam Smith Institute,  (b) Accenture and  (c) KPMG for work in each of the last six years.

Hilary Benn: The information is as follows:
	
		
			   
			   Adam Smith Institute  Accenture  KPMG 
			 2001-02 473,171 0 5,135,556 
			 2002-03 0 0 2,406,887 
			 2003-04 0 0 40,752 
			 2004-05 0 41,374 0 
			 2005-06 0 15,510 0 
			 2006-07 0 113,750 0 
		
	
	DFID also has contracts with Adam Smith International Ltd., which is a separate self-financing commercial organisation. Data during the same period is as follows:
	
		
			   Adam Smith International () 
			 2001-02 9,139,631 
			 2002-03 7,050,474 
			 2003-04 9,383,626 
			 2004-05 8,786,406 
			 2005-06 13,964,873 
			 2006-07 14,754,673 
		
	
	These organisations have undertaken a range of public service reforms, in accordance with the requirements of development recipients. Examples are support to the South African Government's restructuring of state-owned organisations, and capacity building support for the Afghanistan Ministry of Commerce.

Iraq: Asylum

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contribution the UK Government has made to the UN High Commission for Refugees for aid to assist Iraqi refugees and displaced persons; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID has contributed 1.5 million in response to the UN High Commission for Refugees' (UNHCR) appeal for Iraqi refugees and displaced persons. The appeal will provide food, shelter, water and sanitation and legal protection mechanisms for Iraqi refugees across the region. This appeal is now almost fully funded.
	Our support to UNHCR's appeal is part of a wider 10 million contribution that DFID has made since January to provide emergency relief and other services to displaced and vulnerable Iraqis. This takes our total humanitarian assistance to over 125 million since 2003.

Overseas Aid

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of bilateral assistance to  (a) Malawi,  (b) Zambia,  (c) Ghana,  (d) Uganda,  (e) Sierra Leone,  (f) Rwanda,  (g) Vietnam,  (h) Pakistan,  (i) Nepal and  (j) East Timor was delivered by direct budget support in 2005-06; and what projections he has made for future delivery of direct budget support as a proportion of overall bilateral aid up to 2009-10.

Hilary Benn: Poverty Reduction Budget Support (PRBS) is DFID's term for aid provided to a partner government to support that government's poverty reduction programmes which is spent using the government's own financial management, procurement and accountability systems. PRBS is also commonly known as direct budget support.
	We deliver PRBS in many different ways in different countries, depending on the objectives we are trying to achieve and the particular risks we face.
	General budget support is provided to the government to support implementation of the overall poverty reduction strategy. It is allocated and spent by the government across all sectors to achieve overall progress against multiple poverty reduction objectives. General budget support has the advantage of supporting the government's overall policies for addressing poverty and reinforces the role of the Ministry of Finance in allocating resources across government in the most effective way.
	Sector budget support is normally provided to the government to support implementation of a particular sector strategy and achieve particular improvements in for example health, education or road infrastructure. In some countries this can be a more effective way of achieving development in particular sectors. Sector budget support can also be a more effective way of delivering aid where there are high fiduciary or political risksin some countries we track our resources to the sector or sub-sector to ensure that they are spent in that sector.
	The proportion of DFID's bilateral assistance delivered as PRBS in 2005-06 and projections up to 2007-08 for each country are given in the following table. Projections are based on PRBS commitments DFID has made to partner governments together with the current allocation of DFID bilateral aid to the relevant countries. Projections beyond 2007-08 will not be available until the comprehensive spending review is concluded later this year. East Timor did not receive any PRBS from DFID in financial year 2005-06 and is not projected to receive any in following years.
	
		
			   Level of PRBS ( million)  Proportion of DFID aid framework (Percentage)  Status 
			  (a) Malawi
			 2005-06 34.3 49 Actuals 
			 2006-07 33.2 53 Projection 
			 2007-08 37.0 53 Projection 
			 
			  (b) Zambia
			 2005-06 20.7 44 Actuals 
			 2006-07 26.2 64 Projection 
			 2007-08 25.0 63 Projection 
			 
			  (c) Ghana
			 2005-06 47.7 56 Actuals 
			 2006-07 53.6 76 Projection 
			 2007-08 57.7 82 Projection 
			 
			  (d) Uganda
			 2005-06 30.0 45 Actuals 
			 2006-07 40.0 53 Projection 
			 2007-08 35.0 50 Projection 
			 
			  (e) Sierra Leone
			 2005-06 15.0 47 Actuals 
			 2006-07 12.5 40 Projection 
			 2007-08 (1) (1)  
			 
			  (f) Rwanda
			 2005-06 (2)56.8 (2)83 Actuals 
			 2006-07 (2)2.6 (2)15 Projection 
			 2007-08 35.0 76 Projection 
			 
			  (g) Vietnam
			 2005-06 34.0 61 Actuals 
			 2006-07 34.0 68 Projection 
			 2007-08 31.8 64 Projection 
			 
			  (h) Pakistan
			 2005-06 42.5 59 Actuals 
			 2006-07 62.5 69 Projection 
			 2007-08 47.5 47 Projection 
			  (i) Nepal
			 2005-06 8.7 26 Actuals 
			 2006-07 4.9 13 Projection 
			 2007-08 9.0 27 Projection 
			 (1 )Not availablepending decision in July.  (2 )Reflects additional tranche of General Budget Support paid in 2005-06 and resulting adjustment in 2006-07 figures. 
		
	
	Further information on Poverty Reduction Budget Support will be published in the Departmental Report in May.

Overseas Aid

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of bilateral assistance to  (a) Kenya,  (b) Mozambique,  (c) India and  (d) Afghanistan was delivered by direct budget support in 2005-06; and what projections he has made for future delivery of direct budget support as a proportion of overall bilateral aid up to 2009-10.

Hilary Benn: Poverty reduction budget support (PRBS) is DFID's term for aid provided to a partner government to support that government's poverty reduction programmes, which is spent using the government's own financial management, procurement and accountability systems. PRBS is also commonly known as direct budget support.
	We deliver PRBS in many different ways in different countries, depending on the objectives we are trying to achieve and the particular risks we face.
	General budget support is provided to the government to support implementation of the overall poverty reduction strategy. It is allocated and spent by the government across all sectors to achieve overall progress against multiple poverty reduction objectives. General budget support has the advantage of supporting the government's overall policies for addressing poverty and reinforces the role of the Ministry of Finance in allocating resources across government in the most effective way.
	Sector budget support is normally provided to the government to support implementation of a particular sector strategy and achieve particular improvements in for example health, education or road infrastructure. In some countries this can be a more effective way of achieving development in particular sectors. Sector budget support can also be a more effective way of delivering aid where there are high fiduciary or political risksin some countries we track our resources to the sector or sub-sector to ensure that they are spent in that sector.
	Kenya and Afghanistan did not receive any PRBS from DFID in financial year 2005-06 and are not currently projected to receive any over the following financial years.
	The proportion of DFID bilateral assistance delivered as PRBS in 2005-06 and projections up to 2007-8 for both Mozambique and India are given in the table. Projections are based on PRBS commitments DFID has made to partner governments together with the current allocation of DFID bilateral aid to the relevant countries. Projections beyond 2007-08 will not be available until the comprehensive spending review is concluded later this year.
	
		
			  (b) Mozambique 
			   Level of PRBS ( million)  Percentage of DFID aid framework  Status 
			 2005-06 41.3 73 Actuals 
			 2006-07 36.0 80 Projection 
			 2007-08 41.0 68 Projection 
		
	
	
		
			  (c) India 
			   Level of PRBS ( million)  Percentage of DFID aid framework  Status 
			 2005-06 79.5 32 Actuals 
			 2006-07 71.8 30 Projection 
			 2007-08 83.0 31 Projection 
		
	
	Further information on poverty reduction budget support will be published in the departmental report in May.

Palestinians: Overseas Aid

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will resume aid to the Palestinian territories.

Hilary Benn: The Government continue their substantial programme of assistance to the occupied Palestinian territories (oPts). In the financial year just ended (2006-07), DFID provided 15 million in assistance to the oPts plus a further 15 million for Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Gaza, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. These figures represent a 0.5 million increase on the previous financial year and are in addition to the UK's share of European Community (EC) funding. Overall, European Union (EC and member states) aid was estimated to be 27 per cent. higher in 2006 than in 2005.
	Since the formation of a Hamas government in March 2006, DFID has provided the majority of its assistance through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) and the EU's temporary international mechanism (TIM). UNRWA and the TIM have enabled DFID and many other donors to provide direct assistance to support the livelihoods of Palestinian people and maintain essential services.

Sudan: Elections

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking  (a) to assist the facilitation of elections in the Sudan in 2009 and  (b) to ensure that such elections are free, fair and inclusive.

Hilary Benn: Supporting a free, fair and inclusive election process is a core commitment of the Government of National Unity and the International Community under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and it is important that both sides deliver on their commitments. The first step is for the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) to formulate the Election Law and for this to be passed by the National Assembly. The Election Law will establish the National Electoral Commission which will be responsible for the running of the elections. DFID and other donors have provided support to the NCRC to assist in preparation of the Election Law. Once the Election Law is passed a full programme of election support will be provided jointly with other donors. This will include training for the National Assembly in Election Law to ensure effective scrutiny of the Election Bill, and support for a monitoring and observation process to ensure effective oversight of the preparations for elections, and the election themselves.
	DFID has already provided support for the consultations around the elections process, nationally and in the South. We have also sponsored a visit for four members of the NCRC to observe the Scottish Elections on 3 May. This will provide an opportunity for Sudanese officials to witness a mixed electoral system in operation, a model which may be applicable for Sudan.
	DFID is also working with the embassy on a joint programme to boost the capacity of political parties, and to provide training for journalists on the reporting of elections. Together, we have initiated a working group with members from the international community in Khartoum, which meets regularly to ensure that we are approaching this task together.

Sudan: Overseas Aid

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to ensure that international donors fulfil the pledges for $4.5 billion made at the Oslo conference 2005 for humanitarian assistance and reconstruction in Sudan.

Hilary Benn: DFID pledged $545 million in Oslo for the period 2005-07. Actual disbursement has been much higher; DFID disbursed over $500 million during 2005-06, and our financial commitment for 2007 is $205 million. We are seeking greater clarity on the exact status of other donors' pledges. From figures available we believe that most donors have also honoured or exceeded their Oslo pledges. At the recent Sudan Consortium held in Khartoum and Juba on 19-21 May, the international community re-iterated its commitment to helping Sudan implement the comprehensive peace agreement. DFID will continue to track closely levels of development assistance to Sudan through effective dialogue with other donors both in-country and at headquarters level.
	Unfortunately the ongoing conflict in Darfur has meant that the bulk of donor resources are being used for humanitarian assistance, rather than reconstruction. We have made it clear to the Government of National Unity that a resolution to the conflict in Darfur is essential if international donor assistance is to be directed towards long-term development in Sudan.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Age: Discrimination

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what protection is in place for pensioners who experience age discrimination in the provision of goods and services; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Munn: There is currently no legal protection from age discrimination in the provision of goods and services. The Government are considering whether there is a case for introducing legislation to prohibit harmful age discrimination in the provision of goods and services as part of the Discrimination Law Review. The proposals emerging from the review will be published for public consultation in May.

Council Tax: Essex

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2007,  Official Report, column 315W to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar, on the Valuation Office, how many domestic properties in the local authority area of  (a) Epping Forest district council and  (b) Brentwood district council are classified with a Value Significant Code of FC.

Phil Woolas: As at 3 February 2007 there were (a) 360 and (b) 574 domestic properties classified with a dwelling house code of FC in  (a) Epping Forest district council and  (b) Brentwood borough council.

Council Tax: Tax Rates and Bands

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps the Valuation Office Agency takes to inform neighbouring houses of incorrect council tax banding when a property successfully appeals against an incorrect banding.

Phil Woolas: All alterations to bandings are published on the Valuation Office Agency website at www.voa.gov.uk and can also be viewed in the hard copy of the council tax valuation list held by the relevant local authority at their offices.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2007,  Official Report, column 315W to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar, on the Valuation Office, if she will list the mechanisms by which the Agency gathers and obtains information on whether a property has an outbuilding;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 18 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1327W to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar, on the Valuation Office Agency, whether the photographs of properties which are provided by Rightmove include internal photographs of the property;
	(3)  pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2007,  Official Report, column 315W to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar, on the Valuation Office, what the Valuation Office Agency's definition is of a bathroom; and whether a room with a shower but not a bath is classified as a bathroom;
	(4)  whether  (a) solar panels and  (b) a small wind turbine would be considered by the Valuation Office Agency when assessing the capital value of a domestic dwelling for a council tax valuation or revaluation;
	(5)  whether the Valuation Office Agency collates information on whether domestic dwellings have  (a) double glazing,  (b) solar panels and  (c) wind turbines.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 1596-97W.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1731W to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar, on the Valuation Office Agency, if she will place in the Library a copy of the Valuation Office Agency's guidance manual for staff on using the Market Comparable Reporting Tool.

Phil Woolas: Market Comparable Reporting Tool is the name given by Rightmove.co.uk to its archive database, to which the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has web-based access under the terms of a contract between Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and Rightmove.co.uk plc. Guidance on the use of the bespoke website was contained in Instructions and Advice issued to VOA staff on 18 July 2005. This document was placed in the House of Commons Library pursuant to a question from the hon. Member answered on 26 October 2005,  Official Report, column 447W and is available on the VOA website.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Valuation Office Agency has valued for council tax banding purposes the residential development of 68 apartments and houses on the land at the former Renny Lodge hospital, London road, Newport Pagnell.

Phil Woolas: I understand a number of developments are taking place on this site. Council tax bandings are entered in the council tax valuation list as and when the dwellings are completed and occupied. One of the developments on this site by Crest Nicholson, which I understand comprises 68 apartments, is not yet ready and has not yet been banded.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 18 January 2007,  Official Report, columns 1327-28W, on the Valuation Office Agency, whether the information on properties by Rightmove includes information on the number of  (a) bathrooms,  (b) bedrooms and  (c) parking spaces as part of the property.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 1596-97W.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) titles and  (b) dates of publication were of the council tax instruction and advice notes and associated documents issued by the Valuation Office Agency to assist staff between January 2002 and December 2004.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 1596-97W.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the reasons are for the difference between the number of domestic dwellings on council tax valuation lists and the number of households according to the 2001 census.

Phil Woolas: The census is a snapshot in time of household numbers. Council tax valuation lists show numbers of dwellings and are constantly changing to reflect new entries and deletions.

Departments: Paper

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of paper used  (a) for photocopying and  (b) in printed publications by her Department was from recycled sources in each of the last three years.

Angela Smith: For the last 10 years, Communities and Local Government and its predecessors have used recycled paper for all photocopying and printed publications.

Departments: Pressure Groups

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what meetings took place between Ministers and outside interest groups between 1 January and 31 March; and what the date was of each such meeting.

Angela Smith: This information is available in the Freedom of Information Disclosure Log on the Communities and Local Government website at the following links:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=l509991 for meetings in January;
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=l509529 for meetings in February; and
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=l509989 for meetings in March.
	Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

Local Government: Reorganisation

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what legal advice she took on whether the current local government restructuring process conformed with the Local Government Act 1992.

Phil Woolas: It is not the usual practice for Governments to disclose whether or not they have sought legal advice, or the content of such advice, and it would not be appropriate for me to do so in this case.

Unitary Councils: North Yorkshire

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for consideration by her Department of North Yorkshire County Council's bid for a unitary authority in North Yorkshire; what recent representations she has received on the bid; what public consultations have been undertaken on the matter; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to my written statement of 27 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 71-73WS.

Unitary Councils: Referendums

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will assess the merits of referenda as a suitable gauge of public opinion in the stakeholder consultation for suitability of bids for unitary authority status.

Phil Woolas: As our invitation makes clear, after the stakeholder consultation we will reassess the proposals against the five criteria, having regard to all the representations and information we receive during the consultation, including information about the results of any local referendums.

Valuation Office Agency

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the Valuation Office Agency document Dwellinghouse coding: An illustrated guide was  (a) first published and  (b) last amended.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 1596-97W.

Valuation Office Agency

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government under what legislation the Valuation Office Agency have the right to retain photographs of the interiors of people's homes; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 13 March 2007
	The Local Government Finance Act 1992 gives listing officers of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) the statutory responsibility to compile valuation lists in England and Wales for council tax purposes. Information is necessarily retained in order that the VOA can carry out its functions.

Valuation Office Agency

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what measures her Department has in place to ensure that photographs taken by the Valuation Office Agency do not infringe on personal privacy rights; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 13 March 2007
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 1596-97W.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 18 January 2007 to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar,  Official Report, column 1328W, on the Valuation Office Agency, whether the Information Commissioner has provided advice or guidance on the contract with Rightmove.

Phil Woolas: No.

Valuation Office: Contracts

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the contract between the Valuation Office Agency and Rightmove.

Phil Woolas: The contract is between HMRC, as parent department of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and Rightmove.co.uk plc. This document is commercially confidential and cannot be placed in the public domain.

Valuation Office: Contracts

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reason the Valuation Office Agency decided to sign the contract with Rightmove for a specific period of 34 months with the 12 month option to extend.

Phil Woolas: Information connected with the contract between HMRC, parent department of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and Rightmove.co.uk plc is commercially confidential and cannot be placed in the public domain.

Valuation Office: Contracts

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Valuation Office Agency paid to Rightmove.co.uk plc in each year since 2004-05.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the Valuation Office Agency's published Annual Report and Accounts 2005-06, available on the VOA's website. Total payments for the years 2004-05 and 2005-06 are shown at page 62 under 'Other Operating Costs' against the cost head of 'Data capture'. Information for the year 2006-07 is not yet available.

Valuation Office: Contracts

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what area of the UK Rightmove is supplying the Valuation Office Agency with property information.

Phil Woolas: Information accessible by the Valuation Office Agency on Rightmove.co.uk's archive database covers England only.

Valuation Office: Electronic Equipment

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Valuation Office Agency spent on digital cameras and related electronic equipment in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07 to date; and how many cameras were purchased in each of those years.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the earlier answer, 30 November 2005,  Official Report, column 587W. No further expenditure took place in that year. Expenditure in 2006-07 will be available once the accounts are finalised.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Culture: Havering

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what cultural events her Department is  (a) organising and  (b) helping to fund in the London borough of Havering in the next 12 months.

David Lammy: The DCMS is helping to fund cultural events in Havering through its NDPBs. Arts Council England (ACE) funds the Queens Theatre and a number of poetry events through the Spread The Word Literature Development Agency. ACE is also supporting the development of the Thames Gateway Dance Partnership, the Thames Gateway Arts Framework and 2012 planning for the Gateway boroughs.
	The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council are supporting the Libraries for Learners project and are working with the London borough of Havering on the Thames Gateway Cultural Strategy and advising on the establishment of a new museum service for the borough.
	The UK Film Council operates two funds, the London Borough Film Fund Challenge and Film London's EAST project, which Havering could directly benefit from, dependent on successful application.
	In addition, Havering has received 200,113 in Lottery funding from Arts Council England and 505,265 from the Heritage Lottery Fund since the Lottery began in 1995.

Gambling: Licensing

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications have been received by the Gambling Commission for remote operating licences under the Gambling Act 2005.

Richard Caborn: At 27 April, the Gambling Commission had received and classified 95 remote operating licence applications.

Gambling: Licensing

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assumptions her Department has made in calculating the Gambling Commission's forecast cost and revenues on the number of remote operating licence applications it expects to be made under the Gambling Act 2005.

Richard Caborn: In line with HM Treasury Fees and Charges Guide, the costs of the Gambling Commission undertaking its regulatory activities would include the full direct and allocated costs (including depreciation) of the regulatory and licensing regime allocated appropriately to avoid any cross-subsidisation between categories and types of fees and all costs of enforcement.
	Estimates of costs and revenues were generated from the Commission's independently created model which reflected the assumptions used to establish the Commission's initial budget based on the limited information available at that time. These assumptions will be kept under review in the light of actual experience of the operation of the new regulatory and licensing regime.

Gambling: Licensing

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assumptions her Department has made on the number of applications for remote operating licences under the Gambling Act 2005 that will be made before 1 September.

Richard Caborn: Based on the information available and set out in the consultation document on Gambling Commission fees published in July 2006, the Commission estimated that the average number of operators in each type and category of licensable activity requiring a remote operating licence from 1 September 2007 was 57.
	At 27 April 2007, the Gambling Commission had received and classified 95 remote operating licence applications including a larger than expected number of applications for licences from telephone betting operators.

Gambling: Licensing

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department plans to take to strengthen its use of evidence to inform policy making as recommended in its Capability Review; and what assessment has been made of the use of evidence in developing the regulatory order to implement the Gambling Act 2005.

Richard Caborn: The Department's plan for responding to the Capability Review is outlined in the Permanent Secretary's response to the Capability Review (pages 5-8) and in Transforming DCMS, the transformation action plan. Both are published on the DCMS website:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Publications/
	Implementation of the Gambling Act 2005 is based on evidence, including that generated by extensive consultation with stakeholders on a wide range of issues.

Gaming Machines

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 19 April 2007,  Official Report, column 713W, if she will publish the proposals that have already been drafted to ensure that gaming machines comply with sections 240 and 241 of the Gambling Act 2005.

Richard Caborn: The Department's draft proposals under sections 240 and 241 of the Gambling Act 2005 were set out in a formal consultation paper. I am arranging for copies of the consultation paper to be deposited in the Libraries of the House.

Sport

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the diversion of funding from the Big Lottery Fund to the 2012 Olympics upon  (a) the efforts of statutory agencies to promote physical activity and  (b) the Government's target of 50 per cent. of adults meeting the recommended minimum level of physical activity by 2011; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The Big Lottery Fund will be contributing just over 638 million to the 1,085 million to be transferred, subject to Parliamentary approval, from non-Olympic Lottery proceeds to the Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund (OLDF) between 2009 and 2012. Naturally, this will affect the rate at which the Fund is able to commit and spend money in all the areas it supports. The Department has made no assessment of the likely impact on any particular area, as future programmes are for the Big Lottery Fund to design. However, the Government's intention is that no existing lottery project will be affected, and we have also agreed with the Big Lottery Fund that resources for the voluntary sector will be protected. On the basis of the Department's current income projections, the Fund should still receive approximately 2 billion in fresh Lottery income during the four financial years in which the proposed transfers to the OLDF will be made.

Sport

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how she plans to monitor the level of change in participation in sports and physical activity resulting from London's hosting of the Olympics  (a) before,  (b) during and  (c) after the event takes place; whether the Government have made any predictions of the likely level of changes; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: We currently use the Taking Part survey to monitor sports participation at the national level and to report on our public service agreement (PSA) on sport participation. Sport England's Active People survey is used to monitor participation at the local level We will continue to use surveys such as these to monitor the level of change in participation before, during and after the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
	We have not made predictions about the likely level of change in participation; however the Government have set a very stretching PSA target to increase by 3 per cent. by 2008 the number of people from priority groups who participate in sport. PSA targets beyond 2008 have not yet been set.

Sports: Grants

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money from  (a) the Big Lottery Fund and  (b) other lottery distributors, including sports councils, was spent on grassroots sport and other schemes which promote physical activity among adults in each of the last five years.

Richard Caborn: Lottery money has always paid for a very wide range of projects from kit for local teams to investments in major stadia and sports halls. There is no accepted definition of what constitutes grass roots investment or otherwise in this range.
	However total Lottery funds spent by the Big Lottery Fund and the Sports Councils on sport (excluding UK Sport which has a clear high performance remit) in each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			   million 
			  Lottery funding  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  Grand total 
			 Big Lottery Fund 4,801,339 31,618,846 84,993,116 250,237,156 (1)222,581,300 (1)594,231,757 
			 Sport England 307,958,000 237,400,000 170,700,000 202,100,000 121,400,000 1,039,558,000 
			 Sports Council for Wales 20,632,200 20,769,763 18,888,000 12,662,000 10,649,000 83,600,963 
			 Sport Scotland 17,395,792 33,565,723 28,977,187 23,524,041 21,897,783 125,360,526 
			 Sports Council Northern Ireland 5,665,747 3,904,620 5,939,011 6,651,167 7,975,994 30,136,539 
			 Total 356,453,078 327,258,952 309,497,314 495,174,364 384,504,077 1,872.887,785 
			 (1)( )Figures from the Big Lottery Fund were only available to 28 February 2007 because of technical problems with accessing the month of March 2007 data.  Notes: Figures are rounded to the nearest pound. Figures shown are 'drawdown' which most accurately represents spend on sport in that year. Figures for 'Income' (to distributors from the NLDF) or 'awards' (made to projects in that year) would give a slightly different picture as, for example, cash would not always flow against awards in that same year. Figures for Sports Councils include contributions to Awards for All. BLF figures include: New Opportunities for PE and Sport (NOPES) Community Sport Initiative (from 2004-05)A UK wide initiative tailored for each country, for example, in England the Active England programme is a joint initiative with Sport England. Big Lottery Fund contributed 77.5 million and Sport England contributed 31 million. School Sports Co-ordinators funding (from 2003-04) Big Lottery Fund figures do not include Awards for All or other Lottery programmes which may have funded sport or physical activity indirectly.

Sports: Young People

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures are being taken to increase participation in competitive sport among young people in  (a) Romford and  (b) England.

Richard Caborn: Through the National School Sport Strategy the Government are revitalising competitive school sport in England.
	The 2005-06 School Sport Survey showed the following data for competitive sport for the three School Sport Partnerships (SSPs) which fall within Romford constituency:
	 Coopers Company  Coborn SSP
	All schools held a competitive sports day;
	72 per cent. of pupils were involved in intra-school competition; and
	35 per cent. of pupils from years 4-11 were involved in inter-school competition.
	 Davenant Foundation SSP
	All schools held a competitive sports day;
	77 per cent. of pupils were involved in intra-school competition; and
	43 per cent. of pupils from years 4-11 were involved in inter-school competition.
	 Emerson Park SSP
	All schools held a competitive sports day;
	72 per cent. of pupils were involved in intra-school competition; and
	31 per cent. of pupils from years 4-11 were involved in inter-school competition.
	Nationally the 2005-06 survey showed that:
	97 per cent. of schools held a competitive sports day;
	71 per cent. of pupils were involved in intra-school competition; and
	37 per cent. of pupils from years 4-11 were involved in inter-school competition, a rise of 12 per cent. on 2003-04.
	To continue to improve the quality and quantity of competitive school sport we are implementing a network of Competition Managers across School Sport Partnerships. Currently schools within the Davenant Foundation SSP are benefiting from access to a team of Competition Managers appointed from September 2006.
	Sport England advise that in 2006 1,040 young people were engaged in preliminary London Youth Games events in the London borough of Havering. An additional 386 young people went to the finals, 315 of which attended the main games and 71 attended the mini-games at Crystal Palace.
	In addition, we have established the UK School Games (UKSG). This is an annual event that will become the pinnacle of competitive school sport. The 2006 UKSG took place in Glasgow with 1,200 young competitors. The 2007 UKSG will take place in Coventry.

Works of Art: Valuation

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 613-4W, on works of art: valuation, what information is required to ensure that a valuation is properly justified; and to what extent the Reviewing Committee can reduce a valuation for a UK purchaser.

David Lammy: Where an item has been sold at auction, the applicant is required to provide a copy of the entry in the sale catalogue and proof of the price at which the item was sold. Where the valuation represents a private treaty sale or agreement to sell, the applicant is required to provide the written agreement or a certified copy of it, together with any related invoices and to confirm whether the sale agreement represents a single transaction that will not be affected by any other existing or subsequent transactions between the owner and the purchaser. Where the valuation represents an estimate, the applicant is required to provide details of the estimate with background information explaining how the value was reached.
	The Reviewing Committee may recommend a valuation different from that proposed by the applicant where it considers that there are reasonable grounds to support such a recommendation. It may also recommend that the Secretary of State seek an independent valuation of the work of art in question.

Works of Art: Valuation

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 613-4W, on works of art: valuation, what the investigative powers are of the Reviewing Committee into valuations.

David Lammy: The Committee has no formal powers of investigation, but may request the applicant to provide information to substantiate a valuation before, during and after the case hearing. If someone who applies for a licence fails to provide adequate information on valuation as requested by the Committee, the Committee may decline to make a recommendation on valuation and recommend that the Secretary of State seek an independent valuation.

Works of Art: Valuation

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 613-4W, on works of art: valuation, how many times an independent valuation varied from the valuation submitted to the Reviewing Committee in each of the last 10 years; and what steps were taken when this happened.

David Lammy: Over the last 10 years there has been one occasion where an independent valuation varied from the valuation submitted to the Reviewing Committee. In this case, the Committee took into account all the available evidence and recommended a lower valuation than that provided by the applicant.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peace Keeping Operations

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what submunitions are contained in the M270 tracked multiple launch rocket system that is being deployed to Afghanistan; whether he classifies these submunitions as dumb or not-dumb; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The M270 tracked multiple launch rocket launcher will be deployed with the new Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets.
	Each GMLRS rocket has a unitary (single munition) high explosive warhead, it does not employ submunitions.

Ammunition: Iraq

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the percentage of smart cluster munitions which fail to explode immediately.

Adam Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 20 April 2007,  Official Report, column 800W, to my right hon. Friend the Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith).

Armed Forces: Dogs

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average daily cost of feeding a dog in military service was in each of the last three years, broken down by service.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 26 April 2007
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1648W.

Armed Forces: Health Services

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions his Department has been unable to fulfil an agreed whole-time equivalent number of staff in  (a) Ministry of Defence hospital units and  (b) NHS trusts in each year since 2001; and how much financial compensation has been paid as a consequence.

Derek Twigg: The number of occasions when the agreed whole-time equivalent numbers have not been achieved, and the costs of meeting these shortfalls, are detailed as follows. The relevant contracts with the NHS trusts have provided for the Department to pay for civilian locum or agency replacements only since financial year 2005-06. Before then the contractual terms provided for lower levels of payment to be made by the trusts to the Department for the agreed service.
	In financial year 2005-06 there were 33 occasions when the agreed whole time equivalent numbers to be provided to NHS trusts hosting Ministry of Defence hospital units were not reached. The total sum reimbursed to the NHS trusts concerned was 1.34 million.
	To date, 27 such occasions have been identified for financial year 2006-07 and the total cost of reimbursement has been 1.01 million.
	There has been no shortfall in either financial year in the provision of agreed whole time equivalent numbers to any other NHS Trusts hosting military medical personnel.

Civilian Global Navigation System

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential implications for British national security of European proposals to institute a civilian global navigation system.

Geoff Hoon: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK welcomes the development of Galileo, Europe's civil global navigation satellite system, under civil control, and its many civil applications. We will continue to scrutinise Galileo's development so that any national security implications that could arise from the programme or its applications can be dealt with appropriately.

Defence

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the formal  (a) meetings and  (b) correspondence which (i) he, (ii) other Ministers in his Department and (iii) officials in his Department have had in an official capacity with representatives from the defence industry since 1 December 2006; when each meeting took place; who attended each meeting; what the subject was of each meeting; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Defence Ministers have held the following meetings with defence manufacturers between 1 December 2006 and 31 March 2007.
	 Secretary of State
	18 JanuaryMet with representatives of Vosper Thornycroft and Fleet Support Ltd. during a visit to HM Naval Base, Portsmouth.
	 Minister for Defence Procurement (Minister for Defence Equipment and Support from 6 March 2007)
	10 JanuaryAttendance at a BAE Systems Leadership Meeting.
	15 JanuaryMeeting with representatives from BAe to discuss UK/FR high level working group.
	16 JanuaryMeeting of the National Defence Industry Council.
	17 JanuaryMeeting with representatives from General Dynamic UK to discuss the FRES project.
	18 JanuaryMeeting with representatives from British Nuclear Group to discuss decommissioning of redundant nuclear submarines.
	18 JanuaryMeeting with a representative from Ventures Business Research to discuss possible areas co-operation.
	24 JanuaryMeeting with a representative from Babcock to discuss the Maritime Industrial Strategy.
	24 JanuaryMeeting with representatives from Currie and Brown to discuss management IT software opportunities.
	25 JanuaryMeeting with representatives from Carlyle Group to discuss the Maritime Industrial Strategy.
	29 JanuaryMeeting with representatives from Agusta Westland to discuss helicopters.
	30 JanuaryMeeting with representatives from Raytheon to discuss a range of equipment issues.
	1 FebruaryMeeting with representatives from the Carlyle Group to discuss QinetiQ.
	22 FebruaryMeeting with representatives from Eurocopter to discuss helicopters.
	22 FebruaryMeeting with representatives from VT Group to discuss the Maritime Industrial Strategy.
	28 FebruaryMeeting with representatives form BAE Systems to discuss munitions.
	1 MarchMeeting with a representative from Babcock to discuss the Maritime Industrial Strategy.
	5 MarchMeeting with a representative from the Carlyle Group to discuss the Maritime Industrial Strategy.
	6 MarchMeeting with Deloitte to discuss the Defence Industry Strategy.
	12 MarchMeeting with a representative from BAE Systems to discuss the Maritime Industrial Strategy.
	12 MarchMeeting with a representative from MBDA to discuss the Maritime Industrial Strategy.
	12 MarchMeeting with a representative from VT Group to discuss the Maritime Industrial Strategy.
	19 MarchMeeting with a representative from BAE Systems to discuss the Maritime Industrial Strategy.
	19 MarchMeeting with a representative from the Carlyle Group to discuss the Maritime Industrial Strategy.
	26 MarchMeeting with a representative from General Dynamics UK to discuss various equipment programmes.
	27 MarchMeeting of the National Defence Industry Council.
	27 MarchMeeting with a representative from the MBDA to discuss the Defence Manufacturers Association.
	29 MarchIntroductory meeting with a representative from Nexter with discussions including FRES and munitions.
	29 MarchMeeting with a representative from Finmeccanica to discuss a variety of equipment issues including helicopters.
	 Under Secretary of State for Defence
	1 MarchMeeting with a representative from Marshalls Aerospace to discuss the relocation of the company to Cambridge airport.
	6 MarchMeeting with a representative from EDS Ltd. to discuss the introduction of a new Veterans card.
	Each of the Defence Ministers may also have met with defence manufacturers on other less formal occasions during the period, including whilst visiting company premises or at party political events.
	Details of every meeting between officials and representatives from defence manufacturers is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However there will have been numerous regular and ad hoc meetings since 1 December 2006.

Land: Sales

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1035W, on land: sales, in what circumstances a land quality assessment is not carried out; and how the value of the land is calculated in those circumstances.

Derek Twigg: It is normal for the MOD to undertake Land Quality Assessments (LQA) on all sites being considered for disposal.
	In line with industry best practice, the MOD LQA process adopts a structured phased approach and is tailored to individual site conditions. It is not necessary to carry out every phase for all sites. For example past use may be such that potential risks identified at a LQA preliminary phase may be sufficiently quantified not to warrant proceeding to the next phase. The value of the land will ultimately be determined by the market.

Mercenaries: Iraq

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the rules of engagement for private military companies operating in Iraq.

Kim Howells: holding answer 23 April 2007
	I have been asked to reply.
	The operation of private security companies in Iraq is regulated by Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Memorandum Number 17. CPA legislation remains in force as part of the law of Iraq by virtue of Article 130 of the Iraqi Constitution until amended or repealed by the Iraqi Government. Annex A to CPA Memorandum Number 17 sets out binding rules on the use of force, which apply to all private security companies in Iraq. I will arrange for CPA Memorandum Number 17 to be placed in the Library of the House. It is already available on the following website:
	http://www.iraqcoalition.org/regulations/index.html #Regulations.

Nimrod Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average annual fuel defect rates of the Nimrod fleet per fifty flying hours were in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The average annual fuel system defect ('fuel defect' is defined as any reported fault relating to the aircraft fuel system) rate per 50 flying hours for the Nimrod fleet over the last 10 calendar years for which the information is currently available, is as follows:
	
		
			   Defects per 50 flying hours 
			 1996 3.93 
			 1997 4.61 
			 1998 4.72 
			 1999 4.64 
			 2000 3.83 
			 2001 3.81 
			 2002 3.83 
			 2003 3.99 
			 2004 4.75 
			 2005 3.80

Rigid Inflatable Boats

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the acquisition costs are for each type of rigid inflatable boat used by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

Adam Ingram: There are 15 types of in-service Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB). I am withholding the information about acquisition costs as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests. Purchase costs do, however, range between approximately 20,000 and 200,000.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to produce a revised edition of the draft guidance on termination of pregnancy in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The Department of Health and Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) issued the draft Guidance on Termination of Pregnancy in Northern Ireland to interested parties on 9 January. The response date was extended from 16 March to 20 April due to the high level of interest that it generated.
	DHSSPS is currently collating the responses in order to produce a summary response document. The final guidelines will not be issued until after the Assembly is restored.

Arson

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of suspected deliberate fire starting were reported in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and how many people were  (a) arrested,  (b) prosecuted and  (c) convicted of arson and related offences in each year.

Paul Goggins: Table 1 outlines the total number of incidents recorded and cleared by PSNI. Table 2 gives prosecutions and convictions for the offences of 'arson' and 'arson endangering life'.
	The statistics in the table are drawn from two separate sourcesPSNI Central Statistics Unit and NIO Statistics and Research Branch. PSNI statistics include incidents which have been recorded but did not result in prosecution or any further recommended action. The statistics drawn from NIO Statistics and Research Branch detail prosecutions and convictions. Comparison is not possible between the two tables.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			   Number of Offences 
			   Recorded  Cleared 
			 2002-03 2,598 141 
			 2003-04 2,136 200 
			 2004-05 2,011 177 
			 2005-06 2,333 179 
			 1 April 2006 to 28 February 2007(1) 2,281 153 
			 (1 )Data are collated on the principal offence rule; thus only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.  Source:  Central Statistics Unit, PSNI 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Prosecutions and convictions for the offences of 'arson' and 'arson endangering life' 2001-05( 1,2) 
			   2001  2002  2003 
			   Prosecuted  Convicted  Prosecuted  Convicted  Prosecuted  Convicted 
			 Arson 32 24 47 35 43 29 
			 Arson endangering life 13 9 3 3 15 8 
			 Total 45 33 50 38 58 37 
		
	
	
		
			   2004  2005 
			   Prosecuted  Convicted  Prosecuted  Convicted 
			 Arson 61 39 39 21 
			 Arson endangering life 22 16 13 10 
			 Total 83 55 52 31 
			 (1 )Data are collated on the principal offence rule; thus only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included. (2 )Data for 2005 are provisional.  Source:  Statistics and Research Branch

Departments: Land

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what surplus land is owned by Government Departments in Northern Ireland; what the acreage is of that land; and what plans the Government have for this land.

David Hanson: The following areas of land owned by Government Departments have been identified as surplus.
	
		
			  Area  Acres  Comment 
			 Wilsonis Farm, CAFRE Enniskillen Campus 36 Currently with Land and Property Services (LPS) to identify interest from other Government Departments. If no interest is declared the plan is for this land to be sold. 
			
			 Thomhill, CAFRE Enniskillen Campus 77 Currently with LPS to identify interest from other Government Departments. If no interest is declared the plan is for this land to be sold. 
			
			 Tullyhogue Fort site, CAFRE Loughry Campus, Cookstown 44.5 The fort includes a State Care Monument on 3.7 acres which may transfer to DOE Environment and Heritage Service. Cookstown district council has expressed interest in purchasing 4.9 acres. The remaining 35.9 acres will be sold. 
			
			 Part of lands at Knockbracken Healthcare Park, Belfast 138 If there is no interest from other Government Departments this land will be sold. 
			
			 Part of lands at Gransha/Stradreagh Hospital, Londonderry 264 If there is no interest from other Government Departments this land will be sold. 
			
			 Part of lands at Downshire Hospital, Downpatrick 68.7 If there is no interest from other Government Departments this land will be sold. 
			
			 Bush Road, Antrim 3.8 If there is no interest from other Government Departments this land will be sold. 
			
			 Part of lands at Whiteabbey Hospital 23.7 If there is no interest from other Government Departments this land will be sold. 
			
			 Part of lands at Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital, Omagh 103.5 If there is no interest from other Government Departments this land will be sold. 
			
			 Maze/Long Kesh former prison 360 Proposals are under consideration for mixed use regeneration of regional significance, including multi-sport stadium and international centre for conflict transformation, subject also to decisions on affordability and value for money. 
			
			 Ebrington Barracks Londonderry 26 Proposed regeneration, led by Ilex Urban Regeneration CompanyMasterplan includes residential and retail development. 
			
			 Magherafelt former security site 7.5 Proposed location of new primary school and education campus. 
			
			 Corporation Street Belfast (1)n/k Potential land swap with Department for Regional Development Roads Service. 
			
			 Tomb Street Belfast (1)n/k Potential land swap with Department for Regional Development Roads Service. 
			
			 Landscaped area in centre of Tullyhommon, High Street, Pettigo 0.09 Agreed for transfer to Fermanagh district council. 
			
			 Old Customs House, Tullyhommon 0.03 Agreed for transfer to Fermanagh district council. 
			
			 Linenhall Street, Ballymoney 0.32 Situation unknown. 
			
			 Land at Trasna Way, Lurgan 0.44 Contract and deposit 14,500 received 
			
			 Land to rear of 17A Market Street, Lurgan n/k Ongoing negotiations. Sale agreed to P Park. 
			
			 Slater's Cross, Belleek n/k RDO Omagh investigating. Maps requested. 
			
			 Car park at Cliff Road, Belleek n/k Awaiting confirmation from Roads Service re adoption. 
			
			 Main Street, Belleek 0.16 Agreed for transfer to Fermanagh district council. 
			
			 Car Park, Main Street, Carrickmore (2)0.05 Awaiting confirmation from Roads Service re adoption. 
			  (3)0.01  
			 Car Park, Cornmill, Coalisland n/k Awaiting confirmation from Roads Service re adoption. 
			
			 Roadway and Car Park, Stewartstown 1.24 Awaiting confirmation from Roads Service re adoption. 
			
			 Footpath at Main Street, Clogher 0.006 Awaiting confirmation from Roads Service re adoption. 
			
			 Walls site, Castlederg n/k Awaiting maps. 
			
			 Former Railway Track, Coalisland (4)4.25 Awaiting clarification on maps. 
			  (5)2.53  
			
			 Main Street, Castlederg n/k Awaiting maps. 
			
			 Site 3 @ 65 Union Place, Dungannon 0.008 Sale currently being negotiated by Land and Property Services. 
			 Site 5 @ 61 Union Place, Dungannon 0.009  
			 Site 8 @ 34 Union Place, Dungannon 0.117  
			 Sites 9 and 10 Union Place, Dungannon 0.076  
			
			 Rear of 27-29 Irish Street, Dungannon 0.006 Sale currently being negotiated by Land and Property Services. 
			 (1) Lands comprised in Folio No: AN 46573. (2) Registered. (3) Unregistered. (4) Site A. (5) Site B.

Departments: Paper

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of paper used  (a) for photocopying and  (b) in printed publications by his Department was from recycled sources in each of the last three years.

Peter Hain: This information is not recorded and therefore it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The NIO policy is to use paper for photocopying, printing and for publications that is derived from at least 70 per cent. post consumer waste. Currently we purchase office paper that is derived from 100 per cent. post consumer waste.

Derelict Land

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what disused public land is available in Northern Ireland; what plans are in place for each such site; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The following plots of disused public land and the plans in place for each have been identified by Northern Ireland Departments:
	
		
			   Plans in place 
			 Part of former Dunmurry Golf Course at Upper Dunmurry Lane/Creighton Road, Belfast Planned use is for social housing subject to successful planning appeal 
			   
			 Land between Blacks Road and Colin Valley Golf Course, Belfast Current proposal is for development as public open space with children's play areas 
			   
			 Part of lands at Downshire Hospital May be required for new Downe Hospital 
			   
			 Lands at Drumcoo, Enniskillen May be required for new hospital in South West 
			   
			 Part of lands at Mid Ulster Hospital, Magherafelt May be required for hospital use 
			   
			 Part of lands at Musgrave Park Hospital, Belfast May be required for hospital use 
			   
			 Land at Fairhill Street, Ballycastle Likely to be disposed of as surplus land in accordance with Land and Property Services guidance 
			   
			 Site of store, Curragh Road, Coleraine Likely to be disposed of as surplus land in accordance with Land and Property Services guidance 
			   
			 Land adjacent to river bank of Lower Bann River near Kilrea Likely to be disposed of as surplus land in accordance with Land and Property Services guidance 
			   
			 Land on bank of Faughan River at Drumahoe Likely to be disposed of as surplus land in accordance with Land and Property Services guidance 
			   
			 Land at Quoile pondage, Downpatrick Very restricted use due to environmental protection designations. Its future may be determined by DOENI Environment and Heritage Service 
			   
			 Killyleagh Former HS (South Eastern Education and Library Board) Future development of Killyleagh OEC 
			   
			 Killowen PS/Laurelhill HS, Lisburn (South Eastern Education and Library Board) Potential reuse of campus for new education provision 
			   
			 Downshire PS, Main Street, Dundrum (South Eastern Education and Library Board) Held for new build Infant/Diagnostic Unit for Knockevin Special School 
			   
			 Former Ballymena Boys' and Girls' High School, Demesne Avenue, Ballymena (North Eastern Education and Library Board) Planned location for re-organised Special School Provision in Ballymena involving the amalgamation of Beechgrove, Dunfane and Loughan Schools 
			   
			 969 acres owned by the Department for Social Development at 380 locations 158 acres for transfer to housing associations for social housing 
			  292 acres for sale for private housing 
			  519 acres to be retained for future development

Drumaghlis School: Crossgar School

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions have taken place between the South Eastern Education and Library Board and the boards of governors of Drumaghlis Primary School and Crossgar Primary School on the implementation programme for the amalgamation of both primary schools from 1 September 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The South Eastern Education and Library Board has undertaken a full consultation with the boards of governors of Drumaghlis Primary School and Crossgar Primary School about the proposed amalgamation prior to the publication of the development proposal. The development proposal is currently being considered by the Department of Education.
	Pending a decision on the development proposal an interim board of governors for the proposed new amalgamated school, representative of both the existing schools, has been established to progress the effective implementation of the amalgamation and to prepare a Scheme of Management for the new school. A senior officer from the South Eastern Education and Library Board has been appointed as an independent chairman to the interim board of governors to facilitate this work.

Faith Schools

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many private  (a) Anglican,  (b) Catholic,  (c) Evangelical and  (d) Jewish faith schools there are in Northern Ireland.

Maria Eagle: There are currently 10 private evangelical schools in Northern Ireland. There are no Catholic, Church of England or Jewish private schools.

General Practitioners

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department allocated to Western Urgent Care for out-of-hours service provision in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: Following the introduction of the new GMS contract, responsibility for the commissioning of out-of-hours services was transferred to WHSSB on 1 January 2005. Since that date the WHSSB has allocated the following levels of funding to Western Urgent Care:
	
		
			  Period covered  Amount ( million) 
			 1 January 2005 to 31 March 2005 1.3 
			 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 5.3 
			 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 5.3

General Practitioners

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures his Department has in place to ensure that the proposed five per cent. reduction in the Western Urgent Care budget for the financial year 2007-08 will not reduce the level of patient care provided to patients living in the Derry, Strabane and Limavady areas.

Paul Goggins: There has been no reduction in the actual budget for the provision of out-of-hours (OOH) care, either for Western Urgent Care specifically, or in Northern Ireland as a whole, nor is such a reduction planned. When the Health and Social Services Boards took over responsibility for the delivery of OOHs from GPs in 2005 following the introduction of the new contract for GPs, the Department agreed to provide bridging finance for a period of three years to assist the boards with the start-up costs of the new service. It was agreed with the Health and Social Services Boards at the time that this bridging finance would decrease in the third year (2007-08) and cease from 1 April 2008. The budget for the service is otherwise unaffected.

Health Professions: Training

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which specialities used the online NHS eportfolio for Medical Training Application Service shortlisting in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: No specialities used the online NHS eportfolio for MTAS shortlisting.

Irish Language: Pupils

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in what proportion of schools in Northern Ireland pupils are taught Irish as a second language.

Maria Eagle: The requested information is not available for primary schools. The following information relates to examination entries in Irish for the 2005-06 academic year in English-medium schools.
	Of the 229 English-medium post primary schools:
	79 (34 per cent.) post primary schools had entries in GCSE Irish;
	49 (21 per cent.) post primary schools had entries in A-level Irish.
	 Notes:
	1. Irish-medium primary and post primary schools have been excluded from this analysis.
	2. In the 2005-06 academic year, two post primary schools had pupils being taught in Irish-medium units. It is not possible to exclude these pupils from the analysis.
	3. The GCSE and A-level examination data have been taken from the University of Bath dataset.
	4. The number of post primary schools is taken from the annual school census.

Junior Doctors: Working Hours

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many days on average junior doctors were available to provide a service to patients in the Northern Ireland hospital where they work during  (a) March 2006 and  (b) March 2007.

Paul Goggins: This information is not held centrally and could be provided by the Health and Social Care Trusts only at a disproportionate cost.

Local Government: Manpower

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are employed in local government in Northern Ireland.

David Cairns: The number of people employed in the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland, as at 1 January 2006, totalled 10,912. This figure has been provided from records held by the Local Government Staff Commission for Northern Ireland.

Locums

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost was of locum cover in Northern Ireland for junior doctors during  (a) March 2006 and  (b) March 2007.

Paul Goggins: The cost for locum cover in Northern Ireland for junior doctors during March 2006 was 782,605. A final figure for March 2007 is not yet available but the cost to date is 867,297.

Locums

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost has been of providing locum cover for junior doctors in Northern Ireland attending activities relating to Modernising Medical Careers.

Paul Goggins: There is no additional cost for providing locum cover for junior doctors attending Modernising Medical Careers activities as cover is provided by other junior doctors in the rota.

Primary Education

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what meetings have taken place between the education boards and primary school teachers on the implementation programme for the revised primary school curriculum for primary 1 and primary 5 classes;
	(2)  what training programmes have taken place with teachers in each of the education and library boards on the implementation of the revised primary school curriculum for  (a) primary 1 and  (b) primary 5 classes.

Maria Eagle: The education and library boards, as part of the strategic planning by the education partners within the partnership management board (PMB), have provided three days' training for all Year 1 and Year 5 teachers during 2006-07, with follow-up training planned for the next academic year. Year 1 teachers have also been invited to attend local group meetings relating to Foundation Stage, and Year 5 teachers will receive training during the summer term relating to specific aspects of assessment.
	The boards have also been engaging directly with primary principals, as school leaders. Every primary principal has had the opportunity to discuss the implementation of the revised curriculum at a series of face to face meetings, in addition to senior management conferences which began in 2005-06. PMB has also established a principals' forum as a further means of engaging directly with schools and every school has a dedicated link officer from the boards.

Recycling

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is on encouraging recycling across Northern Ireland.

David Cairns: Towards Resource Management, the waste strategy for Northern Ireland, sets challenging targets for the recycling and recovery of all wastes. I am committed to the development of viable end markets for recycled materials and to supporting the work of WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) and other initiatives that will engage the business sector and encourage recycling. Sustainable procurement and purchasing policies across central Government will help to stabilise these markets. My Department will also be consulting on providing powers for district councils to introduce incentive schemes to reduce and recycle household waste.

Roads: Accidents

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Government are taking to tackle the number of young drivers killed and injured on Northern Ireland's roads.

David Cairns: The Northern Ireland Road Safety Strategy 2002-12 reinforces Government's commitment to road safety and includes a range of measures aimed at young drivers.
	The Department of the Environment is currently researching the training, testing and licensing of new and young drivers and the future direction for Northern Ireland's L and R driver schemes. Any proposed changes will be the subject of consultation.
	DOE actively promotes Road Traffic Studies and GCSE Motor Vehicle and Road User Studies in post-primary schools, providing support, training and materials to schools. The Police Service of Northern Ireland has developed an NVQ, Preparation for Driving, which will be made available by September 2007. These courses focus on the attitudes of young adults, many of whom will soon become drivers. The PSNI ran 19 Roadsafe Roadshows during the current school year, attended by almost 11,000 young people, depicting how a night out could end in tragedy. DOE also offers, through schools, a driver training scheme to 17 and 18-year-olds with valid provisional licences.
	DOE has a portfolio of hard-hitting road safety campaigns targeting the main causes of road deaths and serious injuries. These particularly focus on the 17-24 age group as it is most at risk and most likely to be responsible for serious road collisions.
	The PSNI has introduced a Driver Improvement Scheme to improve driving standards and attitudes for first time careless driving offenders as an alternative to prosecution.
	Over the past year the PSNI has worked with young motorists through its involvement with a local cruising club. Approximately 1,000 young people attended a recent event in Ballymena.
	The PSNI mounts intelligence-led road safety operations, particularly in relation to young drivers, throughout the year. In 2006, 3,723 fixed penalty notices for speeding were issued to 17 to 24-year-olds.

Special Educational Needs

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much each education and library board spent on defending  (a) special education needs tribunal cases and  (b) special educational needs judicial review cases in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: It is not possible for the education and library boards (ELBs) to provide the exact costs of defending special educational needs tribunal and judicial review cases in each of the last five years as they do not hold records of the exact amount of time spent by board officers in preparing for and, if necessary, attending tribunals and judicial reviews.
	I am advised by the chief executives of the education and library boards that, for both tribunals and judicial reviews, an average cost of 5,000 per case in respect of cases which are eventually heard and 1,000 for all other cases is appropriate.
	
		
			  Special educational needs tribunal 
			   
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 BELB 40,000 20,000 15,000 15,000 5,000 
			 NEELB 18,000 57,000 52,000 29,000 29,000 
			 SEELB 6,000 7,000 25,000 25,000 15,000 
			 SELB 24,000 16,000 8,000 7,000 3,000 
			 WELB 6,000 26,000 9,000 8,000 11,000 
		
	
	
		
			  Judicial reviews 
			   
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 BELB 0 5,000 5,000 20,000 15,000 
			 NEELB 10,000 0 10,000 5,000 0 
			 SEELB 0 10,000 45,000 40,000 25,000 
			 SELB 0 0 5,000 10,000 0 
			 WELB 0 0 0 5,000 0

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Africa: Exports

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support the Government provided to British firms seeking to establish export agreements with African countries in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ian McCartney: UK Trade and Investment is the Government organisation that supports UK companies trading internationally. During the past 12 to 18 months it has assisted over 4,600 British companies working in Africa through its range of services. Services offered include helping British companies develop their export strategy, providing support and advice on market entry, advice on local customs, assistance in finding a local partner and understanding ways of doing business. Our ambassadors/high commissioners and senior government officials have helped British companies in their efforts to secure contracts in Africa by extensive lobbying with Ministers and officials. They are also in constant discussions with Ministers and senior officials to promote British expertise and knowledge.
	Working with its stakeholders UKTI has arranged 65 inward missions and 62 outward missions to African countries in recent years including South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya.
	UK exports to Africa in 2006 amounted to 6,194,177 up 7.2 per cent. on the 2005 figure of 5,777,083.

British Sky Broadcasting: ITV

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to make his decision on whether BSkyB's acquisition of a 17.9 per cent. stake in ITV should be referred to the Competition Commission.

Ian McCartney: A decision on whether to refer this transaction to the Competition Commission will be made as soon as possible and before the statutory deadline which is 26 May.

British Sky Broadcasting: ITV

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from officials at BSkyB on its stake in ITV; and if he will publish those representations.

Ian McCartney: BSkyB has made substantive representations on its shareholding in ITV to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and to Ofcom in the context of the respective investigations these bodies have carried out into that matter. The reports submitted by the OFT and Ofcom to the Secretary of State on Friday 27 April contain summaries of the representations they received, including those received from BSkyB. Section 107(3)(b) and 107(3)(a) of the Enterprise Act 2002 require the Secretary of State to publish the reports submitted by the OFT and Ofcom. Section 107(9)(a) of the Enterprise Act 2002 requires that these reports shall be published no later than the publication of the Secretary of State's decision on whether to make a reference to the Competition Commission. In accordance with section 118 of the Enterprise Act 2002, suitable excisions will be made to the reports of the OFT and Ofcom prior to their publication. The excisions will be primarily in respect of the consideration specified in section 244(3)(a) of the Enterprise Act 2002 which concerns the exclusion of commercial information whose disclosure might significantly harm the legitimate business interests of the undertaking to which it relates.

Business: Suffolk

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firms ceased trading in  (a) Bury St Edmunds constituency and  (b) the Suffolk county council area in each year since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: Value added tax (VAT) de-registrations are the best official guide to the pattern of business closures although only 42 per cent of UK businesses were registered for VAT at the start of 2005. DTI data on the number of VAT de-registrations in  (a) Bury St. Edmunds constituency and  (b) Suffolk county council area from 1997 to 2005 are shown in the following table. Data for de-registrations in 2006 will be available in autumn 2007. For comparison, the number of new VAT registrations and the start of year stock of VAT registered businesses are also shown.
	
		
			  VAT de-registrations, registrations and stock 
			1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Bury St. Edmunds constituency de-registrations 230 205 240 250 245 230 275 260 265  
			  registrations 295 270 270 325 260 325 320 345 320  
			  stock 3,185 3,250 3,320 3,345 3,420 3,440 3,535 3,580 3,665 3,720 
			 
			 Suffolk county council de-registrations 1,605 1,620 1,625 1,675 1,730 1,785 1,835 1,775 1,695  
			  registrations 2,035 1,890 1,855 2,060 1,885 2,100 2,160 2,085 1,915  
			  stock 20,835 21,265 21,535 21,765 22,145 22,300 22,610 22,935 23,240 23,460 
			  Source:  Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994-2005, Small Business Service, available at http://www.dtistats.net/smes/vat/index.htm 
		
	
	In both Bury St. Edmunds constituency and Suffolk county council area the stock of VAT registered businesses has increased each year since 1997, as registrations have exceeded de-registrations throughout this period.
	VAT registration and de-registration data do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if their turnover falls below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 4.3 million businesses were registered for VAT at the start of 2005.

Business: Suffolk

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many small businesses that began trading since 1997 have subsequently ceased trading in  (a) Bury St Edmunds constituency,  (b) Suffolk,  (c) the east of England and  (d) England.

Margaret Hodge: While value added tax (VAT) registrations and de-registrations are the best official guide to the pattern of business starts and closures only 42 per cent of UK businesses were registered for VAT at the start of 2005. Latest VAT data on the total number of registrations since 1997 and the number of these registrations that subsequently de-registered, covering up to 2005, are shown in the following table for  (a) Bury St. Edmunds constituency,  (b) Suffolk County,  (c) the East of England and  (d) England. Data for 2006 will be available in winter 2008-09.
	
		
			  VAT registrations and subsequent de-registrations, 1997 to 2005( 1) 
			Number 
			 Bury St. Edmunds constituency New registrations 1997 to 2005 2,740 
			  Number de-registering by end of 2005 855 
			  Percentage still registered, end of 2005 69 
			
			 Suffolk county New registrations 1997 to 2005 17,980 
			  Number de-registering by end of 2005 6,125 
			  Percentage still registered, end of 2005 66 
			
			 East of England Government Office Region New registrations 1997 to 2005 159,155 
			  Number de-registering by end of 2005 56,815 
			
			  Percentage still registered, end of 2005 64 
			 England New registrations 1997 to 2005 1,423,420 
			  Number de-registering by end of 2005 537,625 
			  Percentage still registered, end of 2005 62 
			 (1) VAT registration and de-registration data are not available by size of business. However, 98 per cent. of the total stock of VAT registered businesses are small (0-49 employees).  Sourc es: Office for National Statistics, UK Business: Activity, Size and Location -2006, available from http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=933 New analysis of VAT survival rates data 1994-2004, Small Business Service, available at http://www.dtistats.net/smes/; SBS analysis of ONS Inter Departmental Business Register data. 
		
	
	VAT registration and de-registration data do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if their turnover falls below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register may not have closed. Only 1.8 million out of the 4.3 million businesses in the UK were registered for VAT at the start of 2005.

China: Wood

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made to the Government of China on ensuring the sustainability of timber imported to China from  (a) South East Asia and  (b) Africa; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: I have been asked to reply.
	DFID is working on the issue of sustainable timber imports to China from South East Asia and from Africa through a number of channels.
	Policy analysis is funded through support to a programme, China and the Asia-Pacific: forest markets for sustainable livelihoods and forests managed by the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Forest Trends. Forest Trends, and the data it produces on Chinese timber production and on the timber imports and exports, is well respected by the Chinese Government. They are about to expand this work to cover a selected number of African countries.
	DFID contributes to an ongoing project jointly run by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the Canadian International Institute of Sustainable Development, whose aim is to integrate sustainable development concerns into Chinese trade/economic policies in three commodities, of which one is the international timber trade.
	Finally, forestry is a priority issue within the UK-China Sustainable Development Dialogue, a formal mechanism for ministerial dialogue and projects on key sustainable development issues. DFID is a member of the newly-established UK-China Forestry Working Group, and is lead and co-funder of a project managed by Chatham House to hold a series of participatory stakeholder meetings on international forestry, bringing together Chinese Government, industry representatives and non-governmental organisations.

Corporate Social Responsibility Academy

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 19 April 2007,  Official Report, columns 767-68W, on the Corporate Social Responsibility Academy, what the funding provided to the academy in  (a) 2004-05,  (b) 2005-06 and  (c) 2006-07 was spent on, broken down by main budget heading;
	(2)  how much government funding was given to the Academy Programme partners as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility Academy in each year since it began.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 30 April 2007
	The budget for the academy over its two years was allocated as follows:
	
		
			  CSR Academy budget 
			   
			   Year 1  Year 2 
			 Programme partners 150,000 127,000 
			 Project management 87,200 91,000 
			 Website/communications 41,400 41,000 
			 Miscellaneous expenses 12,200 20,000 
			 Total 290,800 279,000

Corporate Social Responsibility Academy

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when his Department decided to transfer the running of the Corporate Social Responsibility Academy to Business in the Community.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 30 April 2007
	The Department was in discussion with Business in the Community about the future of the academy from June 2006 and the agreement to the transfer was concluded in January 2007.

Farmers: Bankruptcy

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of farmers who became bankrupt in England in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The closest available estimate for bankruptcies among farmers is the number of bankruptcy orders made under the category agriculture according to the Insolvency Trade Classification. Also provided for further information is the number of company liquidations in the agricultural sector. The following table provides the England and Wales figures in 2001-05, figures for 2006 are not available by industry sector:
	
		
			  Bankruptcies and company liquidations in England and Wales for agriculture, 2001-05 
			   Bankruptcy orders  Company liquidations 
			 2001 183 90 
			 2002 132 76 
			 2003 151 52 
			 2004 204 35 
			 2005 195 35

Financial Services: Marketing

Frank Cook: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many organisations marketing individual voluntary arrangements were successfully prosecuted for using advertising that was in breach of the Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations 1988 in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Any enforcement action regarding advertising of IVAs would be from OFT or ASA. Information regarding prosecutions and breaches of the CMARs can be found on the Consumer Regulations website, provided by the Office of Fair Trading, at www.crw.gov.uk. This records six cases since 2003 involving breaches of the CMARs, all of which were dealt with through undertakings by the companies and relevant individuals rather than by prosecutions.

OM Energy

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when his Department expects to cease providing support to OM Energy Ltd.

Ian McCartney: The key objective of UK Trade and Investment's Global Entrepreneur Programme is to create self sustaining, high growth UK technology businesses by attracting both worldwide intellectual property and entrepreneurial talent here. The latest phase of the OM Energy project will include the recruitment of a highly experienced global management team to take forward the next stage of the company's strategy. This will limit the need for significant ongoing support from the Global Entrepreneur Programme.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Children's Centres: East Sussex

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children's centres he expects there to be in  (a) Eastbourne and  (b) East Sussex by 2010.

Beverley Hughes: There will be seven Sure Start Children's Centres in Eastbourne and 28 Sure Start Children's Centres in East Sussex by 2008. Local authorities will be planning the number of children's centres up to 2010 once they receive their allocations and targets later this year. There are currently two Sure Start Children's Centres in Eastbourne and 10 Sure Start Children's Centres in East Sussex.

Education: Newspaper Press

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many supplements in newspapers were funded by  (a) his Department and  (b) the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in the last 12 months; and how much was spent in each case.

Jim Knight: The number of supplements in newspapers funded by the Department and the QCA in the last 12 months is as follows:
	
		
			  (a) The Department for Education and Skills 
			  Date  Newspaper  Subject  Cost () 
			 6 March 2007 Guardian supplement 14-19 Reforms 42,000 
			 30 March(1) TES supplement 14-19 51,406 
			 October 2006 Guardian supplement x2 Society/Education Every Child Matters 120,000 
			 15 June 2006 Evening StandardLondon Schools Supplement London Challenge, 60,000 
			 (1) Joint with the QCA 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority 
			  Date  Newspaper  Subject  Cost () 
			 8 February 2007 SecEd supplement Preparing for the futuresecondary curriculum review explained 22,120.55 
			 1 February SecEd supplement Preparing for the future14-19 reforms explained 20,000 
			 3 April 2007 Guardian Education supplement Freedom to learn 66,975

Education: Standards

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 28 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1542W on education: standards, how many maintained mainstream schools there were where  (a) more than 20 per cent.,  (b) more than one third and  (c) more than 40 per cent. of 14-year old pupils attained a lower or the same level in Key Stage 3 (i) tests and (ii) teacher assessments in 2006 than they had attained at Key Stage 2.

Jim Knight: The information requested is summarised in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of schools 
			  National Curriculum test  More than 20 per cent. of pupils at the same or lower level in KS3 compared to KS2  More than 33 per cent. of pupils at the same or lower level in KS3 compared to KS2  More than 40 per cent. of pupils at the same or lower level in KS3 compared to KS2 
			 English 729 145 49 
			 Maths 48 0 0 
			 Science 1,849 788 385 
		
	
	The DFES and NAA are currently validating teacher assessment data submitted by schools for KS3 in 2006. As a result of this ongoing work, teacher assessment data for 2006 have not yet been published.

Education: Standards

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 28 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1541W, on education: standards, how many and what proportion of pupils who attained level five or below in the key stage three  (a) teacher assessments and  (b) tests in (i) English, (ii) mathematics and (iii) science had attained level five or above at key stage two in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The information requested is summarised in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of pupils at Level 5 or below at KS3 who attained Level 5 or above at KS21,2 
			   English  Maths  Science 
			   National Curriculum test  Teacher assessment  National Curriculum test  Teacher assessment  National Curriculum test  Teacher assessment 
			   No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  % 
			 2006 27,700 7.2 (3)  2,500 1.0   45,300 13.3   
			 2005 31,000 8.5 24,900 6.8 3,400 1.3 6,400 2.3 52,100 14.5 40,000 11.3 
			 2004 32,300 8.8 25,000 6.8 3,100 1.2 6,700 2.4 49,900 13.6 35,200 10.2 
			 2003 30,600 8.8 23,400 6.1 3,500 1.3 6,700 2.2 38,300 11.8 34,600 9.6 
			 2002 22,400 6.1 18,500 5.0 4,600 1.6 6,900 2.2 35,100 9.7 25,800 7.2 
			 (1) 'Level 5 or below' is defined according to National Curriculum test/teacher assessment level. The levels are B (working below the level of the test), N (not awarded a test level) and 2-8 for National Curriculum tests, and W (working towards Level 1) and 1-8 for teacher assessments. Pupils absent or unable to access the tests at either KS2 or KS3 are not included. (2) Percentages are expressed as a proportion of all pupils at Level 5 or below at KS3. (3) The DFES and NAA are currently validating teacher assessment data submitted by schools for KS3 in 2006. As a result of this ongoing work, teacher assessment data for 2006 have not yet been published.

Education: Standards

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 28 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1541W, on education: standards, how many and what proportion of pupils who attained level four or below in the key stage three  (a) teacher assessments and  (b) tests in (i) English, (ii) mathematics and (iii) science had attained level five or above at key stage two in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The information requested is summarised in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of pupils at Level 4 or below at KS3 who attained Level 5 or above at KS2( 1,2) 
			   English  Maths  Science 
			   National Curriculum test  Teacher assessment  National Curriculum test  Teacher assessment  National Curriculum test  Teacher assessment 
			   No.  %  No.  %  No.   No.  %  No.  %  No.  % 
			 2006 810 0.5 (3)  280 0.2   4,400 2.9   
			 2005 880 0.7 1,600 1.1 440 0.3 590 0.5 5,500 3.4 4,300 2.8 
			 2004 1,300 0.9 1,700 1.0 400 0.3 640 0.5 7,800 4.4 4,300 2.8 
			 2003 1,300 0.9 1,600 0.9 420 0.3 590 0.4 5,400 3.7 4,100 2.5 
			 2002 1,400 0.9 1,400 0.8 560 0.3 600 0.4 3,900 2.4 3,000 1.8 
			 (1) 'Level 4 or below' is defined according to National Curriculum test/teacher assessment level. The levels are B (working below the level of the test), N (not awarded a test level) and 2-8 for National Curriculum tests, and W (working towards Level 1) and 1-8 for teacher assessments. Pupils absent or unable to access the tests at either KS2 or KS3 are not included. (2) Percentages are expressed as a proportion of all pupils at Level 4 or below at KS3. (3) The DFES and NAA are currently validating teacher assessment data submitted by schools for KS3 in 2006. As a result of this ongoing work, teacher assessment data for 2006 have not yet been published.

Free School Meals

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils were known to be eligible for free school meals but were not in receipt of free school meals over the last 10 years.

Jim Knight: holding answer 17 April 2007
	Information on pupils eligible for free school meals is collected at pupil level via the school census. Pupils should only be recorded as eligible if a claim for free school meals has been made for them or on their behalf by parents and their eligibility has been confirmed by the relevant authority or by provision of necessary documents to the school or local authority.
	It is not known how many pupils could be eligible but are not submitting a claim.
	The following table shows the number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals; and the number of pupils who took a free school meal on the day of the census.
	
		
			  Maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools( 1) : school meal arrangementsas at January 2006 , England 
			   Maintained nursery and primary schools  Maintained secondary schools 
			 Number on roll(2) 4,187,630 3,309,720 
			 Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals 670,340 448,680 
			 Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals 16.0 13.6 
			 Number of pupils who took a free school meal on the day of the Census 556,180 328,750 
			 Percentage of pupils who took a free school meal on the day of the Census 13.3 9.9 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes pupils with sole and dual main registration. Includes boarding pupils.  Note: Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census

Further Education: Greater London

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students who took A2-level exams in the London borough of Havering went on to further education in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The figures in this answer are for all 16 and 17-year-olds, there is no information solely on those that have completed A2-level exams and local participation estimates are not available for 18-year-olds.
	The table gives the number and percentage of 16 and 17-year-olds in the London borough of Havering participating in full-time education at a sixth form college, further education college or school. The latest year for which data are available is end 2004.
	
		
			  Participation in education and training of 16 and 17-year-olds in the London borough of Havering by type of institution 1997  to  2004 
			   End 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			  Age 16 
			  Number 
			 Maintained schools 500 500 500 500 600 600 600 600 
			 Independent schools 
			 Sixth form college 900 800 800 800 800 800 800 900 
			 Other FE 800 700 600 700 700 700 700 900 
			 Total 2,100 2,000 2,000 1,900 2,100 2,100 2,200 2,400 
			  
			  Percentage 
			 Maintained schools 17 17 19 18 19 20 22 21 
			 Independent schools 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Sixth form college 30 30 30 27 28 30 29 29 
			 Other FE 27 25 24 25 24 24 25 28 
			 Total 74 71 73 70 71 73 78 78 
			  
			  Age 17 
			  Number 
			 Maintained schools 500 400 400 500 400 500 500 500 
			 Independent schools 
			 Sixth form college 600 600 700 600 500 600 600 600 
			 Other FE 600 500 500 500 500 600 600 600 
			 Total 1,600 1,600 1,600 1,600 1,500 1,600 1,600 1,800 
			  
			  Percentage 
			 Maintained schools 15 16 15 17 15 16 17 19 
			 Independent schools 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Sixth form college 19 23 24 23 19 21 22 22 
			 Other FE 20 19 20 20 19 19 20 21 
			 Total 55 58 59 60 53 57 58 61 
			  
			  Age 16 and 17 
			  Number 
			 Maintained schools 900 900 900 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,100 1,200 
			 Independent schools 
			 Sixth form college 1,400 1,500 1,500 1,400 1,300 1,500 1,400 1,500 
			 Other FE 1,300 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,300 1,400 
			 Total 3,700 3,600 3,600 3,600 3,600 3,700 3,800 4,200 
			  
			  Percentage 
			 Maintained schools 16 16 17 18 17 18 20 20 
			 Independent schools 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Sixth form college 25 26 27 25 24 26 26 25 
			 Other FE 23 22 22 22 22 21 22 24 
			 Total 64 65 66 65 63 65 68 70 
			  Source: DfES SFR 13/2006

Higher Education: Health and Safety Inspections

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the frequency of health and safety inspections in higher education.

Bill Rammell: No such assessment has been made. It is the duty of governing bodies of higher education institutions, as employers, to ensure that their organisations comply with all legislation including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1976 and subsequent regulations. Inspection and enforcement is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities and will depend on the nature of activities carried out in individual higher education institutions.

National Identity Register

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what personal data held by his Department will be entered on to the National Identity Register; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that the Minister for Children and Families, my right hon. Friend the Member for Stretford and Urmston (Beverley Hughes) gave him on 27 November 2006,  Official Report, column 426W.
	Information that may be entered in the National Identity Register is specified at section 3 and schedule 1 of the Identity Cards Act. Information will be entered on the basis of fresh applications for registration when individuals apply for identity cards. There will be no bulk transfer of data to populate the Register. The Department has yet to identify any datasets it holds that might be used for verifying information to be recorded about individuals in the National Identity Register.

Outdoor Education: Biology

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average amount of time spent by A-level biology students out of the classroom was in each of the last five years; what the nature of students' activities out of the classroom was; and what assessment he has made of the impact of such activities on students' learning and understanding.

Jim Knight: The Department does not collect information about the amount of time spent by A-level biology students out of the classroom or the nature of students' activities out of the classroom. In 2004, the Department co-sponsored a review carried out by the National Foundation for Educational Research, 'A Review of Research on Outdoor Learning'. The review covered research on outdoor learning published from 1993 to 2003. The report states that
	Substantial evidence exists to indicate that fieldwork, properly conceived, adequately planned, well taught and effectively followed up, offers learners opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills in ways that add value to their everyday experiences in the classroom.

Pupil Exclusions

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils were excluded from school on the grounds of health and safety in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The requested information is not collected centrally. Pupils may only be excluded from school for disciplinary reasons; they cannot be formally excluded for reasons of health and safety.

Pupils: Assessments

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils attained a lower or the same level at key stage 3  (a) tests and  (b) teacher assessments than what they attained at key stage 2 in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The information requested is summarised in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of pupils at same level or lower at KS3 as at KS2( 1) 
			   English  Maths  Science 
			   National Curriculum test  Teacher assessment  National Curriculum test  Teacher assessment  National Curriculum test  Teacher assessment 
			 2006 84,100 (2) 36,100  145,400  
			 2005 80,300 92,700 56,200 61,400 165,000 136,900 
			 2004 97,400 97,700 57,800 64,900 181,600 134,200 
			 2003 100,900 100,900 65,000 71,900 153,300 136,500 
			 2002 94,600 92,100 75,900 71,900 133,300 124,500 
			 (1) 'Same level or lower' is defined according to National Curriculum test/teacher assessment level and point score. The levels are B (working below the level of the test), N (not awarded a test level) and 2-8 for National Curriculum tests, and W (working towards Level 1) and 1-8 for teacher assessments. Pupils absent or unable to access the tests at either KS2 or KS3 are not included. (2) The DFES and NAA are currently validating teacher assessment data submitted by schools for KS3 in 2006. As a result of this ongoing work, teacher assessment data for 2006 have not yet been published.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the per pupil cost of a young person  (a) studying a new vocational diploma and  (b) remaining in school to study GCSEs and A-levels.

Jim Knight: We are currently reviewing funding arrangements from 2008-09 for schools and post-16 providers including school sixth forms. Our proposals are contained in two funding consultation documents: the 'School, Early years and 14-16 funding consultation' which deals with funding up to the age of 16, and 'Delivering World Class Skills in a Demand Led System' which covers all post-16 learning funded through the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The post-16 consultation ended at the end of March and the pre-16 consultation closes at the end of May.
	Under the funding methodology proposed for sixth forms, which would also apply to provision delivered in colleges, the estimated per pupil cost of a young person studying a typical programme of five GCSEs or three A levels is 4,000.
	Work is under way to develop comparable per pupil cost figures for diplomas but is not yet finalised. This will need to take account of the diploma specifications for the first five diploma lines which should be available this September.
	The Department has carried out modelling work based on five local authorities to illustrate what additional per pupil funding schools might need for Diplomas at Key Stage 4. Based on that work the Average Weighted Pupil Unit (AWPU) for a pupil taking up a diploma would be 1.3 times the AWPU of a child not taking up diploma provision.

School: Sports

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of schools in England which provide  (a) less than two hours of sport per week,  (b) two to four hours of sport per week and  (c) four hours or more of sport per week;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the average number of hours of sport played in each school in England per week.

Jim Knight: Data are not collected centrally in the format requested. The 2005/06 School Sport Survey found that overall, 80 per cent. of pupils in schools within a school sport partnership took part in at least two hours of high quality PE and school sport in a typical weekexceeding the 2006 PSA target of 75 per cent.
	In the longer term, the ambition is that by 2010, all young people will be offered at least four hours of sport every week. This will comprise of at least two hours of PE and sport during the school day and at least an additional 2-3 hours of sport beyond the school day (delivered by a range of school, community and club providers).

Schools: Admissions

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools were oversubscribed in the last year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: We do not collate this information centrally, but individual local authorities should be able to supply it.

Schools: Crimes of Violence

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many incidents of violence towards  (a) staff and  (b) pupils were reported in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The number of incidents of violence towards staff and pupils in schools is not collected centrally.
	From the academic year 2003/04, information is available on the reasons for pupil exclusions. These reasons include 'physical assault against a pupil' and 'physical assault against an adult'.
	The tables provide a breakdown of the number of pupils who have been excluded for a fixed period or permanently from maintained primary and secondary schools for physical assault against a pupil or an adult. 
	
		
			  Maintained primary and secondary schools( 1) : Number and percentage of fixed period exclusions for physical assault against a pupil or an adult 2003/04 and 2004/05England 
			   Maintained primary  Maintained secondary 
			   Physical assault against a pupil  Physical assault against an adult  Physical assault against a pupil  Physical assault against an adult 
			   Number  Percentag e( 2)  Number  Percentag e( 2)  Number  Percentag e( 2)  Number  Percentag e( 2) 
			 2003/04 10,890 26.4 5,190 12.6 55,440 19.2 8,110 2.8 
			 2004/05 11,950 27.3 5,960 13.6 65,790 20.0 9,490 2.9 
			 (1 )Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Number of fixed period exclusions by reason expressed as a percentage of the total number of fixed period exclusions.  Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: Termly Exclusions Survey 
		
	
	
		
			  Maintained primary and secondary schools( 1) : Number and percentage of permanent exclusions for physical assault against a pupil or an adult( 2) 2003/04 and 2004/05England 
			   Maintained primary  Maintained secondary 
			   Physical assault against a pupil  Physical assault against an adult  Physical assault against a pupil  Physical assault against an adult 
			   Number  Percentag e( 3)  Number  Percentag e( 3)  Number  Percentag e( 3)  Number  Percentag e( 3) 
			 2003/04 290 22.7 290 22.9 1,380 16.6 820 9.9 
			 2004/05 250 22.6 290 26.3 1,500 18.6 900 11.1 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) The distribution of exclusions by reason has been derived from the Termly Exclusions Survey data and applied to the number of permanent exclusions as confirmed by local authorities as part of the School Census checking exercise. (3) Number of permanent exclusions by reason expressed as a percentage of the total number of permanent exclusions.  Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census and Termly Exclusions Survey

Schools: VAT

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to extend the removal of VAT constraints from academies to all facilities funded through the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Jim Knight: In the past, new academy buildings have been zero rated due to academies' status as charities. However, this zero rating placed restrictions on the business use of the buildings i.e. the community use of the buildings for which a charge is made. The Chancellor's budget announcement statement concerning the removal of VAT constraints for current academies and those planned for the future enables the scope of these buildings' use to be extended and future buildings can now be designed with community use in mind.
	These changes will further strengthen the effectiveness and value for money of the academies programme as it continues to move forward.
	The Department will continue an open dialogue with colleagues at HM Treasury about VAT policy and other matters. However, we must be mindful that European Union VAT agreements, signed by successive Governments, mean that while the UK can retain existing zero rates, such as that for charitable buildings, it cannot extend these or introduce any new VAT reliefs.

Secondary Education: Curriculum

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to pilot the new National Curriculum programmes of study being proposed by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority secondary curriculum review.

Jim Knight: There are no plans to pilot the programmes of study being proposed by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority secondary curriculum review. There will be a phased roll out beginning with all Year 7 pupils in September 2008.
	The programmes of study have been developed in consultation with teachers, academics, subject specialists and a wide range of curriculum experts. They take into account best practice developed in schools and current research on the principles of effective teaching. They will be further informed by the results of the national consultation.
	The impact of the programmes of study will be monitored by Ofsted as part of its regular school inspections, and by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority as part of its ongoing curriculum monitoring activity.

Secondary Education: Curriculum

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2007,  Official Report, column 1025W, on secondary education: curriculum, on what occasions the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority met  (a) teachers and head teachers,  (b) officers from local authorities and  (c) parents, governors and pupils in developing the new secondary curriculum.

Jim Knight: In developing the revised secondary curriculum, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) held 13 conferences and subject seminars for teachers, head teachers and officers from local authorities. QCA has an ongoing programme of events to engage with parents, governors and pupils on a range of issues, including the secondary curriculum review.

Teachers: Foreigners

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many non-EU nationals were employed as  (a) primary school and  (b) secondary school teachers in England in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Community Development: Grants

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many community groups have applied for a Connected Fund Round 6 grant;
	(2)  how much he expects to be allocated in grants from the Connected Fund in each of the next two financial years;
	(3)  what plans his Department has to increase publicity for the Connected Fund in future years;
	(4)  when the application process will open for grants in the Connected Fund Round 7;
	(5)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Connected Fund grants in reducing the levels of gun crime in areas where grants have been made.

Vernon Coaker: 363 applications for grants have been received under Round six of the Connected Fund. An Assessment Panel will assess these applications on 3-4 May. A further Round may be held later this year, but a firm decision on this has not yet been taken.
	Budgets for 2008-09 and 2009-10 have not yet been confirmed, so it is not possible to give any figures on funding that may be allocated to the Connected Fund in these years at this stage.
	We publicise the Fund through direct mailing to community groups, through the Government Offices for the Regions, and through local media reporting. This has worked well, with each round of the Fund substantially over-subscribed.
	The Home Office is currently developing an evaluation of the effectiveness of project funding on guns, gangs and knives, covering both the Connected Fund and wider project funding. The Fund supports one part of our strategy to tackle gun crime, which focuses on policing, powers and prevention. Many of the grants from the Connected Fund are for projects to support young people as part of the long-term prevention strand.
	Figures released on 26 April show a reduction of 16 per cent. in overall gun crime in England and Wales in the 12 months to December 2006.

Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill.

Gerry Sutcliffe: As the Minister responsible for the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill, I discuss the Bill with a wide range of colleagues in Government and in Parliament and with stakeholders. The Department also receives a range of correspondence relating to the Bill.

DC Stephen Oake

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will recommend DC Stephen Oake for a posthumous George Cross.

John Reid: holding answer 7 December 2006
	 I was deeply saddened by the tragic circumstances of DC Oake's death. His courage will inspire officers young and old for years to come. The sacrifice he made in the line of duty is appreciated by us all, especially me.
	There are a range of honours to recognise bravery. Recommendations on a George Cross are made by the senior officials on the George Cross Committee and not by the Home Secretary or any other Minister. Any recommendations by the George Cross Committee to award a George Cross is submitted to Her Majesty the Queen by the Prime Minister.

Departments: Contracts

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the value of contracts signed by his Department with Mapeley Abi was in each of the last three years.

Joan Ryan: A contract has been signed with Mapeley Abi Provider Ltd. to provide IPS with premises and facilities management services. The contract value is 55 million for a contract period of three years.

Dispersal Orders

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dispersal orders were issued by each police force in each year since they were introduced.

Vernon Coaker: Data provided by police forces shows that between 1 January 2004 and 31 March 2006 1,065 areas were designated with dispersal powers in England and Wales. The following table provides a breakdown of this total by police force. Data for the period since 1 April 2006 are not yet available.
	
		
			  Designated dispersal orders: January 2004 to 31 March 2006 
			  Force  Number of areas designated 
			 Avon and Somerset 30 
			 Bedfordshire 29 
			 Cambridgeshire 31 
			 Cheshire 1 
			 City of London (1) 
			 Cleveland 30 
			 Cumbria 2 
			 Derbyshire 22 
			 Devon and Cornwall 49 
			 Dorset 31 
			 Durham 2 
			 Dyfed Powys (1) 
			 Essex 24 
			 Gloucestershire 1 
			 Greater Manchester 45 
			 Gwent 6 
			 Hampshire 69 
			 Hertfordshire 20 
			 Humberside 15 
			 Kent 73 
			 Lancashire 18 
			 Leicestershire 30 
			 Lincolnshire 4 
			 Merseyside 70 
			 Metropolitan Police (2) 
			 Norfolk 18 
			 North Wales 16 
			 North Yorkshire 6 
			 Northamptonshire 67 
			 Northumbria 3 
			 Nottinghamshire 40 
			 South Wales 2 
			 South Yorkshire 16 
			 Staffordshire 30 
			 Suffolk 5 
			 Surrey 33 
			 Sussex 35 
			 Thames Valley 6 
			 Warwickshire 22 
			 West Midlands 123 
			 West Yorkshire 22 
			 West Mercia (2) 
			 Wiltshire 19 
			 Total 1,065 
			 (1) No areas designated. (2) No data provided.

Entry Clearances

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department expects to issue entry clearance to Mr. Mohammed Shabir (reference S1329282).

Kim Howells: I have been asked to reply.
	According to our High Commission in Islamabad a letter inviting Mr. Shabir to submit his passport was sent out on 27 April. As soon as the passport has been received the entry clearance can be issued.

Milan Spanovic

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons Milan Spanovic has not been extradited to Croatia; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ryan: On 20 March 2007, Mr. Spanovic was discharged from extradition proceedings by a District Judge at City of Westminster Magistrates Court. This was entirely a matter for the court. The Crown Prosecution Service has lodged an appeal on behalf of the Government of Croatia. As the matter remains before the courts, I cannot comment further.

Miscarriages of Justice

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support is provided to persons released from prison after a successful appeal in court.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Home Office established in 2003 the Royal Courts of Justice advisory service to help those who have been successful on appeal. Help is provided on things like documents to establish identity, finding accommodation, signing up for social security benefits, getting onto a GP's list, how to obtain legal assistance as well as practical advice on day-to-day matters, such as obtaining a bank account. In some cases the service also provides longer term casework support and counselling. Successful appellants may also be able to claim compensation from the Home Secretary depending on the circumstances of the case.

Offences

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 April 2007, to Question 131083, on Leyhill Open Prison, for what reasons it was not possible to provide the same level of information on offence details as that given in the answer of 13 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1134W, on prisons.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Since answering the hon. Gentleman's PQ in June 2006 the Prison Service has adopted new procedures to provide such statistics. These procedures employ a smaller data set which is validated more rigorously. This follows errors in some figures supplied last year. These data do not include offence details which could be provided now only at disproportionate cost.

Offenders: Rehabilitation

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what accredited alcohol treatment programmes with ring-fenced funding there are in prisons in England and Wales.

Gerry Sutcliffe: NOMS is piloting two alcohol treatment programmes in prisons with a view to accreditation. While no accredited programmes targeted solely at alcohol misuse are currently in place, prisons deploy a range of measures to support those with an alcohol problem:
	detoxification is available in all local and remand prisons;
	where alcohol is part of a wider substance misuse problem the full range of drug interventions are available;
	Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) run groups in about 50 per cent. of prisons;
	some prisons run alcohol awareness courses;
	an alcohol information pack and awareness video is available for all prisoners; and
	the young persons substance misuse service for 16 to 18-year-olds has a particular focus on alcohol.
	Funding for alcohol treatment is not ring fenced.

Offenders: Unemployed

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his most recent estimate is of the  (a) number and  (b) proportion of people (i) charged with a crime and (ii) imprisoned who were unemployed; and what the equivalent figures were (A) 10 years ago and (B) 20 years ago.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform is unable to provide the number and proportion of people charged and imprisoned who were unemployed, as the individual circumstances of offenders is not centrally held.

Police Cautions

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms are in place for reviewing the appropriateness of the local use of conditional cautions for criminal offences; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Conditional cautions are a statutory pre-court disposal which must be administered in line with the Code of Practice for Conditional Cautions and the Director of Public Prosecution's Guidance on Conditional Cautioning. The conditional cautioning scheme is currently being rolled out on a national basis. Criminal justice areas must demonstrate they have met all the implementation criteria, including adequate training before the scheme can be introduced.
	The use of conditional cautions is monitored centrally and locally on the basis of monthly data. In addition, area implementation teams have been asked to engage with local judiciary, to provide them with feedback on the operation of the scheme and to enable them to raise any issues of concern.

Police Custody

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 28 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1637W, on police custody, how many police officers were involved in the deployment of Operation Safeguard between  (a) 12 October and 22 December 2006 and  (b) 22 January and 9 March 2007; and which police forces were involved in each case.

John Reid: Staffing requirements for police cells being used as part of Operation Safeguard are a matter for individual police forces. These figures are not collected centrally.

Prison Service: Managers

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms exist  (a) to monitor and  (b) to compare the performance of area managers within HM Prison Service; when each Prison Service area manager was appointed; what assessment he has made of the performance of the area manager for each Prison Service area; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: All area managers are managed by the deputy director general in HM Prison Service who is accountable for operational performance. The deputy director general has a wide range of management information against which to compare establishments and areas. Information performance is published in the annual report and is available via the Prison Service website.
	Area managers are members of the senior civil service (SCS) and are subject to the SCS performance appraisal system.

Prisoners

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were serving an indeterminate sentence in each of the last three years, broken down by category of offence.

John Reid: Figures by offence group for the numbers of prisoners serving life and indeterminate sentences in England and Wales between 2003 and 2005, the last year for which figures are available, can be found in the following table. These figures are taken from table 8.25 of the Offender Management Caseload Statistics for these years, copies of which can be found in the House of Commons Library.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	
		
			  Population of Prisoners serving life and indeterminate sentences in prison establishments in England and Wales, at June 30, 2003-2005 
			  Type of Offence  2003  2004  2005 
			 Murder 3,698 3,726 3,870 
			 Manslaughter 172 177 170 
			 Other homicide and attempted homicide 144 159 161 
			 Other Violence against the person 460 509 586 
			 Rape 534 573 628 
			 Other sexual offence 51 50 49 
			 Other offences 257 293 311 
			 Arson 102 108 106 
			 Total 5,419 5,594 5,882

Prisoners: Release

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of prisoners were granted early release under the home detention curfew scheme in each year since its introduction.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Figures on the numbers of prisoners granted early release under the home detention curfew scheme between 1999 and 2005 can be found in the table. This table is also published as table 10.3 in the Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2005, a copy of which can be found in the House of Commons Library and which is available online at
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/hosb1806 section10.xls
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	
		
			  Home Detention Curfew release( 1)  and population figures by sex 
			  Number/percentage 
			  England and Wales  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Population with sentences of three months to less than four years 49,527 55,344 54,064 55,370 57,551 55,810 54,616 
			 Males 46248 51,533 50,303 51,413 53,256 51,282 50,246 
			 Females 3,279 3,811 3,761 3,957 4,295 4,528 4,370 
			 Number released on HOC 14,847 15,510 13,649 20,456 21,188 19,294 17,296 
			 Males 13,523 14,005 12,121 18,509 19,050 17,159 15,392 
			 Females 1,324 1,505 1,528 1,947 2,138 2,135 1,904 
			 Percentage released 30 28 25 37 37 35 32 
			 Males 29 27 24 36 36 33 31 
			 Females 40 39 41 49 50 47 44 
			 Population on HOC at end of year(2) 2,000 1,700 1,700 3,100 3,700 3,400 3,300 
			 (1) These statistics are based on information recorded on the central prison IT system on 7 October 2006. Further updates and amendments may be made to records on this system in future resulting in revised figures. (2) Rounded to the nearest 100.

Prisoners: Foreigners

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how many foreign prisoners in prisons in England and Wales no country of origin was known on 31 March.

Gerry Sutcliffe: At the end of February 2007, the last date for which the information is available, there were 879 out of a total prison population of 79,582 (or about 1 per cent. of the prison population) prisoners detained in all prisons in England and Wales whose nationality was listed on the IT system as unrecorded. This figure includes instances where the prisoners' nationality is unknown, where they have refused to give it, and where they are stateless.
	The figure has been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisons: Drugs

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2007,  Official Report, columns 546-7W, on prisons, what his assessment is of the relative significance of each of the six main drug supply routes into prison; what policies are in place to close off each of the routes; what steps he has taken to ensure that these policies are operating as standard in each prison in England and Wales; and on what date these policies were introduced.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The supply of drugs into prisons does not take place within a static environment. The supply route of choice will vary between prisons and at a particular prison over a period of time, depending on the demand for illicit drugs by prisoners and the effectiveness of supply reduction measures in place. The relative significance of supply routes therefore changes frequently.
	The comprehensive range of supply reduction measures available to prisons is designed to address the key routes of supply. Decisions about which measures should be deployed are a matter for individual establishments, based on local need.
	The Supply Reduction Good Practice Guide, issued in October 2003 and currently being updated, provides a benchmark for supply reduction policy.
	Supply reduction performance is monitored by Area Managers during routine visits to prisons and bilateral meetings with Governors and the Deputy Director General. Area Drug Co-ordinators receive monthly data on performance targets from establishments.

Prisons: Drugs

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are subject to  (a) closed visits and  (b) extra monitoring arrangements at each prison establishment due to drug-related concerns; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: This information is not collected centrally.

Prisons: Telephones

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to implement the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman's recommendation that the cost of telephone calls in prisons be reduced.

John Reid: I am satisfied that in the majority of cases calls made by prisoners from prisons are cheaper than an equivalent call made from a public phone box. There are therefore no plans to reduce the cost of these calls.

Probation

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Gerry Sutcliffe) requested his private office to draw up a list of the chief officers of probation and chairs of probation boards who were thought to be positive supporters of the Offender Management Bill; for what purpose this list was intended; and whether any persons named on the list were subsequently appointed probation area chairman as of 1 April 2007.

Gerry Sutcliffe: It is entirely normal and appropriate for a Minister to seek the views and opinions of stakeholders throughout the progress of legislation. This can seek to identify positive supporters of the legislation and I requested information on stakeholders throughout the legislation process. This is in line with the ministerial code. The process for appointment of chairs of probation area boards was one of free and open competition following the best practice of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Probation: Greater London

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the conduct of the new chairman of the London probation board previous to receiving her current appointment; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Home Office has received no representations on the conduct of the new chairman of the London probation board, previous to receiving her current appointment.

Rape: Detection Rates

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has conducted into conviction rates for rape in different areas of England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office undertakes occasional research which covers regional variations in conviction rates.
	The Home Office-commissioned study A gap or a chasm? Attrition in reported rape cases (Kelly, Lovett and Regan, 2005) focused on the general process by which rape cases are lost from the criminal justice system but did include a statistical analysis of conviction rates by police force area using routinely collected administrative data.
	The Home Office is currently concluding a study of rape attrition in eight force areas in England and Wales which is more explicitly aimed at improving our understanding as to why conviction (and detection) rates vary across the country. This study will be published in 2007.

Weare Prison

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 21 March 2007,  Official Report, column 975W, on Weare prison, how much expenditure, and on what, would have been required to keep HMP Weare open.

Gerry Sutcliffe: An investment appraisal undertaken in January 2005 identified that a number of significant shortcomings would prevent the continued effective operation of the Weare as it lacked the necessary space for workshop, education and exercise facilities and required extensive refurbishment. In addition the living accommodation was unsuitable and much of it had limited access to natural light. The review estimated that to continue operation for another seven years with an improved regime would have cost around 60 million on a net present value (NPV) basis.

Young Offenders: Rape

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many youths aged 18 years or under were convicted of rape in England and Wales for each year since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The table shows data extracted from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform in respect of convictions for rape committed by youths in England and Wales from 1997 to 2005.
	
		
			  Number of defendants aged 18 years or under convicted of rape at all courts, England and Wales, 1997 to 2005( 1,2,3) 
			   Age 
			   10 to 15  16 to 18  Total 
			 1997 25 52 77 
			 1998 16 28 44 
			 1999 26 51 77 
			 2000 16 43 59 
			 2001 19 39 58 
			 2002 12 36 48 
			 2003 16 34 50 
			 2004 23 33 56 
			 2005 32 74 106 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Office for Criminal Justice Reform.

WALES

Departments: Disciplinary Proceedings

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many grievance procedures have been initiated in his Department in the last 12 months.

Peter Hain: None.

Departments: Sexual Harassment

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many complaints of sexual harassment have been investigated in his Department in the last 12 months; and how many complaints have been upheld.

Peter Hain: None.

Health Services: Wales

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister on cross-border issues affecting health services in Wales.

Peter Hain: I regularly meet with the First Minister when we discuss a range of issues, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales, my hon. Friend the Member for Carmarthen, West and South Pembrokeshire (Nick Ainger) regularly meets with the Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services, when he discusses issues including cross border matters in the health service in Wales.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Gambling: Licensing

Hugo Swire: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations the Better Regulation Executive has made to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the implementation of the Gambling Act 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: Ministers attend many meetings as part of the process of policy development and advice. It is not the normal practice of Government to disclose details of such meetings.

Regulatory Reform Act 2001

Richard Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on how many occasions and for what purposes the extended powers given to Ministers by the Regulatory Reform Act 2001 have been used since it received Royal Assent.

Patrick McFadden: 30 Regulatory Reform Orders (RROs) have been passed under the Regulatory Reform Act and five further RROs are currently before Parliament. RROs were for purposes as diverse as amending Sunday trading rules, simplifying fire safety legislation and removing game licensing requirements. Comprehensive information can be found on the Cabinet Office's Better Regulation Executive website:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/regulation/reform/orders/proposals.asp
	The Regulatory Reform Act 2001 was repealed by the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act which came into force on 8 January 2006.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Poverty

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children were living in a household with neither parent in employment in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

Jim Murphy: The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  C hildren in workless households  UK 
			   Number ( Thousand ) 
			  Spring  
			 1997 2,214 
			 1998 2,216 
			 1999 2,156 
			 2000 1,980 
			 2001 1,915 
			 2002 1,978 
			 2003 1,892 
			 2004 1,861 
			 2005 1,814 
			 2006 1,744 
		
	
	
		
			  C hildren in workless  householdsNorth East (spring q uarter) 
			   Number ( Thousand ) 
			  Q2  
			 1997 123 
			 1998 133 
			 1999 135 
			 2000 118 
			 2001 108 
			 2002 96 
			 2003 122 
			 2004 105 
			 2005 89 
			 2006 83 
			  Note:  Because of the small sample size, the data provided above should be considered as indicative rather than exact.   Source:  Labour Force Survey, Spring 2006. 
		
	
	To measure progress relating to children in workless households (CIWH) the Department uses the Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS). However, it is not possible to disaggregate this data below Government office region.
	The information in the following table uses administrative data to provide the number of children dependent on workless benefits in the Jarrow constituency and South Tyneside. A timeline has been provided from 2004 onwards, the first year where the data are available.
	
		
			  Number of children in workless households 
			   April 
			   2004  2005  2006 
			 Jarrow parliamentary constituency 4,145 3,840 3,585 
			 South Tyneside local authority 9,020 8,405 7,895 
			  Notes: 1. The official definition of a CIWH is a child aged under 16 in a working-age household where no adult works. The administrative data are an inexact proxy for this as they chart all children under 16 in a working-age household who have at least one parent claiming workless benefits (IS, JSA, IB/SDA, and PC). 2. The administrative data do not incorporate in their definition workless adults who do not claim benefits. The definition used also differs from the standard CIWH definition in that it includes children in households with both working and non-working adults, as opposed to a household with no working adults. 3. Furthermore adults working part-time may also be eligible for IS, and such claimants may be included in the administrative data. 4. The information on those claiming income-related social security benefit is not available.  Source: DWP Information Directorate.

Employment Schemes

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what response he has made to David Freud's recommendation that back to work support for the hardest to help claimants should be provided by contracted organisations.

Jim Murphy: The Government are considering David Freud's recommendations carefully and will respond in the summer.

Income Support: Disqualification

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many sanctions were imposed on lone parents claiming income support in each quarter since 1997.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 26 February 2007
	 Other than sanctions in relation to work focused interviews, the information is not available other than at disproportionate cost.
	For the available information on sanctions in relation to work focused interviews, I refer my right hon. Friend to the written answer I gave him on 25 April 2007,  Official Report, columns 1147-48W.

Industrial Health and Safety: Factories

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether there were any  (a) incidents involving and  (b) prosecutions in which proceedings are not ongoing related to harmful emissions at the Sonae factory in Kirkby in each of the last four years.

Ben Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
	Knowsley borough council is responsible for regulating emissions to the atmosphere from this factory under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations 2000.
	The council advises that the number of incidents (both complaints and reported incidents) and prosecutions relating to this factory in the last four years are as follows:
	
		
			   Complaints  Reported incidents  Prosecutions 
			 2004 278 49 3 
			 2005 311 152 0 
			 2006 196 24 0 
			 2007 104 8 0 
		
	
	The subject of complaints against Sonae include odour, dust, smoke, fumes, and noise from the Kirby factory. Knowsley borough council advises that a small proportion of the complaints were subsequently found to be unconnected with Sonae. The company has also challenged an unspecified number of complaints.
	The number of incidents shown in the above table reflects the formal reports which Sonae has submitted. In accordance with their authorisation requirement, Sonae is required to report incidents likely to have an effect on the community. The three prosecutions in 2004 concerned a failure to monitor emissions, failure to comply with an enforcement notice, and failure to comply with an information notice. In total, these resulted in 13,000 worth of fines.
	Factories such as this have the potential to emit various substances including oxides of sulphur and nitrogen, particulate matter, lead, volatile organic compounds, isocyanates, and aldehydes.

Industrial Injuries Benefits

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to reply to question 126417, on industrial injuries benefits, tabled by the hon. Member for Bradford North on 6 March 2007.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 19 April 2007
	Question number 126417 relating to industrial injuries benefits was tabled on 7 March 2007 and a reply was given to my hon. Friend on 14 March 2007,  Official Report column 371-72W.

Jobseeker's Allowance/Incapacity Benefit

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of people who made a new claim for incapacity benefit in the most recent year for which figures are available in  (a) Pathways to Work pilot areas and  (b) other areas were in work (i) six months and (ii) one year later; and how many there were (A) in total, (B) aged 25 to 49 and (C) aged over 50 years.

Jim Murphy: In estimating the impact of Pathways to Work, independent evaluation by the Institute for Fiscal Studies found a 9 percentage point increase in the proportion of those who are employed 10.5 months after claiming incapacity benefit.
	The information in the table comes from data in the National Benefits Database and the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) which are likely to underestimate the numbers and proportions of people who satisfy the given criteria. Rollout of Pathways to Work has been a staged process and the figures therefore only represent the first two phases which rolled out on 24 October 2003 and 5 April 2004.
	
		
			   Proportion (percentage)  Total  Aged 25-49  Aged 50 and over 
			  New claims to incapacity benefit in Pathways to Work pilot areas: April 2004-March 2005 
			 In work six months later 22 11,560 5,950 3,400 
			 In work one year later 26 13,830 7,190 4,040 
			  
			  New claims to incapacity benefit in other areas: April 2004-March 2005 
			 In work six months later 20 110,100 57,880 31,190 
			 In work one year later 24 129,310 68,180 36,500 
			  Notes: 1. Data on employment are available to 26 November 2006. As such, the latest operational year of new claimants for which (a) and (c) are answerable is April 2004 to March 2005, and the latest operational year of claims reaching their first anniversary for which (b) and (d) are answerable is April 2003 to March 2004 (and thus relates to people making a new claim during April 2002 and March 2003). 2. The figures quoted in this response come from data in the National Benefits Database and the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS).  3. Figures in this response are based upon periods of employment measured from the WPLS, which is based on data from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The figures given can only be taken as a minimum for the following (not necessarily comprehensive) reasons: (i) Some records show that a person started or ended employment at some point in the year, but the exact date on when they started or left their job is unknown, and therefore we do not know if they were employed at the points in time specified in this query. (ii) If a person's earnings are sufficiently low that they fall below the lower income tax threshold and so are not required to pay PAYE income tax on their earnings then there is no requirement to inform HMRC of their employment (although some employers declare these jobs anyway). (iii) These data do not include the self-employed. (iv) Poor quality personal data may lead to missed matches with benefits data. (v) No 'HMRC sensitive and secure' information is supplied by HMRC (for example, HMRC employees, members of the security services).

National Identity Fraud Unit

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the budget was of the National Identity Fraud Unit and its forerunners in each year since 1997; how many staff the unit employed in each year; and what the Government's performance targets were for the unit in each year.

James Plaskitt: As a result of organisational and other changes it is not possible to separately identify National Identity Fraud Unit (NIFU) budgets prior to 2006-07. For 2006-07, the budget allocation for NIFU was 508,092.
	Information regarding the number of staff employed in NIFU is not available prior to 2003-04. In 2003-04 it employed 24.8 full-time equivalent staff. In both 2004-05 and 2005-06 it employed 19.1 full-time equivalent staff and in 2006-07 it employed 20 full-time equivalent staff.
	NIFU did not have separate performance targets prior to 2005-06. The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  National Identity Fraud Unit performance targets 
			   Number of arrest packs to be produced( 1)  Number of flags to be put on national insurance number accounts( 2) 
			 2005-06 500 3,600 
			 2006-07 550 4,000 
			  Notes:  1.  Arrest Packs From the documents sent to NIFU for examination and identified as being false/fraudulent, arrest packs containing the document and supporting evidence from the national insurance number (NINO) interview, an initial statement from the document examiner, a visual copy of the anomalies found and all relevant paperwork required by Fraud Investigation Service (Organised) are produced. The pack is then sealed and sent to FIS (O) for consideration of prosecution. 2.  Flags Part of NIFU's remit is the protection of NINO accounts. Where NIFU have found a NINO account to be vulnerable or believed to have fraudulent activity occurring on it then an electronic (flag) marker is put onto the account. Any benefit activity on the NINO account is reported within three working days by a reactivation report. This is then passed by NIFU to the relevant office for investigation, or confirmation that the person the NINO account belongs to is actually the person making the claim to the benefit.   Source:  National Identity Fraud Unit.

National Insurance

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) of 19 March 2007,  Official Report, column 641W, on national insurance, how many national insurance numbers  (a) are allocated to adults not resident in the UK and  (b) have been allocated to 16-year-olds since 2001.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 16 April 2007
	Information is not available as to how many national insurance numbers are in issue to adults not resident in the UK.
	Information regarding the number of national insurance numbers allocated to 16-year-olds is not available in the format requested.
	The vast majority of national insurance numbers are issued to people at the age of 15 years and 9 months under the Juvenile Registration Process. The available information is that between January 2004 and March 2007, 2,604,757 national insurance numbers were issued under the Juvenile Registration Process.

Remploy: Manpower

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the reports produced by consultants to his Department since 2001 relating to Remploy; and what changes in staff numbers were recommended by each.

Anne McGuire: The reports produced by consultants are listed in the following table.
	
		
			   Consultant  Purpose 
			 2003-04 KPMG External assurance and analysis of Remploy's commercial performance as a non-departmental public body 
			 2004-05 KPMG External assurance and analysis of Remploy's commercial performance as a non-departmental public body 
			 2005-06 KPMG External assurance and analysis of Remploy's commercial performance as a non-departmental public body 
			 2006-07 PricewaterhouseCoopers External review of the future business options for Remploy 
		
	
	The Department has not sought recommendations from consultants concerning changes in staff numbers, but the report from PricewaterhouseCoopers looked at various options for the future of the business.

Social Security Benefits: Disabled

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to improve access to information on financial support for families with disabled children.

Anne McGuire: The Government are committed to improving the life chances of disabled people, including disabled children, so that they have opportunities and choices that enable them to participate fully in society. We also want to ensure that every parent of a disabled child or young person has access to, and is aware of, the financial support available to contribute towards extra cost benefits, the principal one among these being Disability Living Allowance.
	The Office for Disability Issues (ODI) will be working across Government to drive forward the development and implementation of policy to improve the lives of disabled people, including disabled children. It has a project looking specifically at strategic and inclusive ways of improving information provision to disabled people, with an emphasis on recommending and developing ways to involve the users of information in designing and tailoring it to their needs.
	The Disability and Carer's Service (DCS) is an agency that continues to focus on delivering improved services to disabled people and carers in Great Britain. This includes improving the information provided to customers and their representatives.
	DCS has established the Family Carers Group. This is a forum which allows DCS to engage and involve voluntary and community organisations in representing the needs of children, and young people who are customers of Disability Living Allowance, as well as their families and carers, in the transformation of DCS services.
	DCS actively promotes services to children through a number of outreach events specifically aimed at children to raise awareness about the benefits to which disabled children may be entitled. These included 'Kidz up North' on 30 November 2006 and 'Kidz South' on 15 March 2007. Both of these were events aimed at families of children with disabilities and on each occasion DCS provided an exhibition stand with staff to answer questions and provide literature on benefits available to disabled people.

Written Questions

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to reply to Question 116900, on benefits sanctions on lone parents, tabled by the hon. Member for Bradford North on 16 January 2007 for answer on 19 January 2007.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 9 March 2007
	A reply was given to my hon. Friend on 19 April 2007,  Official Report , column 784W.

Young People: Employment

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many 18 to 24-year-olds who were neither in education, employment and training, nor claiming jobseeker's allowance nor engaged in the new deal for young people there were in each quarter since 1996;
	(2)  how many 18 to 24-year-olds were not in education, employment and training in each quarter since 1996.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 19 February 2007
	 The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			  Date  18-24 not in employment, education or training( 1) 
			 Spring 1996 860,000 
			 Summer 1996 956,000 
			 Autumn 1996 863,000 
			 Winter 1996 805,000 
			 Spring 1997 759,000 
			 Summer 1997 871,000 
			 Autumn 1997 706,000 
			 Winter 1997 709,000 
			 Spring 1998 699,000 
			 Summer 1998 795,000 
			 Autumn 1998 710,000 
			 Winter 1998 705,000 
			 Spring 1999 667,000 
			 Summer 1999 781,000 
			 Autumn 1999 678,000 
			 Winter 1999 692,000 
			 Spring 2000 665,000 
			 Summer 2000 746,000 
			 Autumn 2000 673,000 
			 Winter 2000 681,000 
			 Spring 2001 655,000 
			 Summer 2001 740,000 
			 Autumn 2001 708,000 
			 Winter 2001 701,000 
			 Spring 2002 685,000 
			 Summer 2002 787,000 
			 Autumn 2002 699,000 
			 Winter 2002 710,000 
			 Spring 2003 703,000 
			 Summer 2003 803,000 
			 Autumn 2003 702,000 
			 Winter 2003 672,000 
			 Spring 2004 682,000 
			 Summer 2004 805,000 
			 Autumn 2004 749,000 
			 Winter 2004 736,000 
			 Spring 2005 752,000 
			 Summer 2005 831,000 
			 Autumn 2005 801,000 
			 Winter 2005 792,000 
			 Spring 2006 780,000 
			 (1) Rounded to the nearest thousand.  Note: NEET numbers are calculated using the DFES statistical definition. These data are seasonally unadjusted and so any comparisons should be made on a year to year basis.

HEALTH

Accident and Emergency Departments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2007,  Official Report, column 114W, on accident and emergency (A and E) departments, what assessment she has made of the reasons behind the increase in the number of admissions via type 1 A and E departments referred to.

Andy Burnham: Demand management, including the number of patients admitted as an emergency via accident and emergency departments, is something that we would expect the local national health service to look at and monitor.
	Data trends do suggest that there has been a particular increase recently in the number of very short stay admissions nationally. This is good patient care. Patients requiring more than four hours of care are entitled to the same levels of comfort and care as any other hospital patient. Patients may be admitted to assessment units or sometimes specialist wards where the next stages of investigation and care can take place in appropriate surroundings.

Cancer

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were referred for the urgent treatment of cancer in each quarter since the quarter beginning January 2005.

Rosie Winterton: The NHS Cancer Plan contained the target that from the end of 2005 all cancer patients would wait a maximum of two months (62 days) from urgent general practitioner referral to first cancer treatment. Not all cancer patients are referred urgently by their general practitioner (GP), so the NHS Cancer Plan also contained the target that all cancer patients would be treated a maximum of one month (31 days) from diagnosis of cancer. The number of patients treated against these targets is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Quarter  Total number of patients referred for urgent cancer treatment within 62 days by their GP  Total number treated within of cancer of patients to be 31 days of diagnosis 
			 2004-05 4 9,114 37,122 
			 
			 
			 2005-06 1 11,021 42,576 
			  2 12,908 45,532 
			  3 14,371 47,872 
			  4 16,755 49,746 
			 
			 
			 2006-07 1 17,884 50,167 
			  2 19,147 51,582 
			  3 19,605 51,268 
		
	
	Further information on cancer waiting times performance is published at:
	www.performance.doh.gov.uk/cancerwaits.

Cancer: Drugs

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was to the NHS of drugs used in the treatment of cancer in each of the last 15 years.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not routinely collect figures on the cost to the national health service of cancer treatment drugs.
	In 2005, the Department completed a tracking investment exercise which showed that between 2000-01 and 2003-04 spending on drugs for cancer treatment increased by 192 million, but we do not know the baseline figure.
	Total NHS expenditure on cancer services, which includes drugs, was 4.3 billion in 2005-06, which equates to 5.4 per cent. of all NHS spending.

Coeliac Disease

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support her Department has provided for research into coeliac disease in each of the last three years.

Ivan Lewis: Over the last 10 years, the main part of the Department's total expenditure on health research has been devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. Details of individual NHS supported research projects including a substantial number concerned with coeliac disease are available on the national research register at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/research
	The Department funds research to support policy and to provide the evidence needed to underpin quality improvement and service development in the NHS and through its Health Technology Assessment Programme has funded research into coeliac disease as part of a study concerned primarily with the use of cognitive behavioural therapy in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.
	The Hammersmith and St. Mary's and Imperial College Biomedical Research Centre formed as part of the implementation of the Government's research strategy Best Research for Best Health proposes to undertake research on the prevalence of coeliac disease and its histological definition as part of its hepatology and gastroenterology research theme.
	In addition, the Food Standards Authority has commissioned a systematic review of the literature on thresholds for reactivity to gluten that will lead to benefits for people who need to follow a gluten free diet.

Coeliac Disease

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent progress has been made in improving the  (a) diagnosis and  (b) treatment of coeliac disease.

Ivan Lewis: Diagnosis of coeliac disease can be difficult for general practitioners as the symptoms are common to many other conditions. Improvements in diagnosis have therefore concentrated on raising awareness of this condition among health professionals and the general public. The PRODIGY website www.prodigy.nhs.uk contains specific information useful for health professionals and people who have been newly diagnosed with the disease.
	There is no specific treatment for those living with coeliac disease. However, symptoms can be kept under control with a strict gluten-free diet. Most people with coeliac disease receive advice from their general practitioner (GP) on self-management of their condition, and specifically on the exclusion of foods containing gluten from their diet. A wide range of gluten-free foods are available on national health service prescription and these may be prescribed where a GP considers it necessary to ensure effective self-management of the condition.

Dental Health: Children

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number and percentage of children under the age of five with tooth decay in  (a) Shropshire,  (b) the West Midlands and  (c) England.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not available centrally, but data from a survey conducted in 2005-06 by the British Association for Study of Community Dentistry of children who were five years old are as follows.
	
		
			  Five-year-old children with tooth decay 
			   Total number  Percentage 
			 Shropshire 891 31.0 
			 West Midlands 15,866 26.9 
			 England 170,032 33.3

Dental Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much patient charge income for delivering NHS dentistry  (a) her Department and  (b) the NHS Business Services Authority estimates each primary care trust received in 2006-07.

Rosie Winterton: Neither the Department nor the NHS Business Services Authority is in a position to make a reliable estimate of patient charge revenue ahead of receiving final outturn data for the full financial year. Dentists have up to two months after the end of the financial year to submit final details of charges collected.

Dental Services: Contracts

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) general dental services contracts and  (b) personal dental services contracts signed by, or on, 1 April 2006 on an in dispute basis remain in dispute, broken down by strategic health authority (SHA) area; and what proportion of contracts signed in each SHA area this represents.

Rosie Winterton: The most recent available information on dental contracts that were in dispute (as at 31 January 2007) is set out in the following table. This information is not collected in a form that can be broken down into general dental services and personal dental services contracts.
	
		
			  New SHA  Total number of dental contracts signed in April 2006  Number of dental contracts in dispute as at 31 January 2007  Percentage of dental contracts signed in April 2006 that remained in dispute as at 31 January 2007 
			 East Midlands 595 88 14.8 
			 East of England 925 64 6.9 
			 London 1,380 133 9.6 
			 North East 355 6 1.7 
			 North West 1,171 54 4.6 
			 South Central 639 45 7.0 
			 South East Coast 756 56 7.4 
			 South West 832 58 7.0 
			 West Midlands 1,020 98 9.6 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 704 108 15.3 
			 England 8,377 710 8.5

Dental Services: Contracts

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists in  (a) England,  (b) each strategic health authority and  (c) each primary care trust (i) rejected the new dental contract on 1 April 2006, (ii) disputed the contract, (iii) disputed but have now accepted the contract and (iv) have not yet resolved their disputed contract; and what percentage of those who were offered the contract these numbers represent in each case.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Dental Services: Funding

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much Dental Service Increment for Teaching funding was made available to each strategic health authority for the year 2006-07; what proportion of this has been spent by each strategic health authority on dental education; and how this expenditure has been accounted for;
	(2)  whether the expenditure by strategic health authorities of their Dental Service Increment for Teaching funding is ring-fenced for the stated purpose of the funding;
	(3)  what steps she is taking to ensure that the Dental Service Increment for Teaching budget is being used by strategic health authorities for its planned purpose.

Rosie Winterton: No funding was allocated to strategic health authorities (SHAs) in 2006-07 in respect of the dental service increment for teaching (dental SIFT). All the dental SIFT funding was allocated to the national dental workforce unit, hosted by the Yorkshire and the Humber SHA who allocated this funding directly to the national health service trusts that host dental hospitals linked to dental schools.

Dental Services: Manpower

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to increase the number of NHS dentists.

Rosie Winterton: The latest available data show there were 20,887 dentists eligible to provide national health service dental services or listed on NHS contracts in England as at 31 December 2006. This is around 1,500 more than in March 2005 and over 4,000 more than in 1997. Under the dental reforms introduced in April 2006, primary care trusts (PCTs) are commissioning an increasing volume of NHS dental services, which is likely to result in further workforce increases. In 2005, the Government expanded the number of dental school places by 25 per cent. in order to support longer-term increases in the dental workforce.

Dental Services: Manpower

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of dentists who qualified in the last 15 years who are still practising in England.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not available.

Dental Services: Manpower

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of dentists who practise in the NHS who were trained abroad.

Rosie Winterton: The available information is for England. The latest information available is as at 31 March 2006. As of that date, there were 4,163 dentists reported as eligible to provide national health service services in England who had qualified outside the United Kingdom.
	Fuller information including a breakdown by country of qualification is available in table 8 of NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report England: 31 March 2006, which has been placed in the Library.
	The report, published by The Information Centre for health and social care, is also available online at: www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dwfactivity.

Dental Services: Manpower

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists qualified in the UK in each of the last 15 years.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the number of dentists who have graduated from dental schools in the United Kingdom is available from 1992.
	
		
			   Dental graduates 
			 1992-93 783 
			 1993-94 730 
			 1994-95 649 
			 1995-96 650 
			 1996-97 722 
			 1997-98 768 
			 1998-99 782 
			 1999-2000 798 
			 2000-01 815 
			 2001-02 800 
			 2002-03 749 
			 2003-04 779 
			 2004-05 800 
			 2005-06 802

Dental Services: Pay

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the average NHS income of NHS high street dentists in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The gross remuneration paid to providers of national health service dental services covers both the practice expenses incurred in providing services and the dentists' net income. Estimated average annual net incomes for general dental service (GDS) dentists with a reasonable commitment to the NHS, after taking account of the proportion of their gross income committed to meeting practice expenses, are shown in the table.
	The data cover dentists working under the terms of the former GDS, which represented the majority of dentists working in primary dental care during the years in question.
	 Estimated average GDS net income for dentists with a reasonable GDS commitment(1), 1997-98 to 2005-06, England and Wales.
	(1) Dentists with a reasonable commitment to the GDS are defined as dentists with GDS gross earnings equivalent to at least 40,000 in 1993-94 in fees for treatments and patient capitation. This equivalent is calculated each year by adjusting figures to take into account the effect of fee increases. The equivalent figure for 2005-06 is 62,200.
	
		
			  Financial year  Estimated average net income( 1,)( )( 2)  () 
			 1997-98 51,200 
			 1998-99 54,300 
			 1999-2000 55,700 
			   
			 Break in series(3)  
			   
			 2000-01(2) 59,200 
			 2001-02 60,500 
			 2002-03 63,300 
			 Break in series(2)  
			   
			 2003-04 72,000 
			 2004-05 71,600 
			 2005-06 76,500 
			 (1) Average net income is estimated using the ratio of expenses to gross GDS fee income for principals who worked for the full 12 month period. (2) The ratio of expenses to gross income is estimated using HMRC tax data on the overall earnings and expenses of non-associate dentists. Average net income prior to 2003-04 is estimated by multiplying the average gross GDS payment in that year (based on BSA payment data) by the most up to date profit ratio available for that year (based on HMRC data). For 2003-04 and 2004-05, net income has been estimated using GDS payment data for each year multiplied by the profit ratio for dentists with a high commitment to the NHS for the respective year. The net income estimate for 2005-06 is based on the profit ratio of high-commitment dentists in 2004-05 (the latest currently available). (3) Figures since 2000-01 use a different methodology to calculate the contribution from other non-fee/capitation payments.  Source: Department of Health and Information Centre for health and social care analysis of NHS Business Services Authority (BSA) payments and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) tax data.

Dental Services: Wiltshire

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional funding she expects the Wiltshire and Swindon primary care trust to receive in 2007 to pay for additional NHS dentistry; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The primary dental service allocations for the Wiltshire and Swindon primary care trusts (PCTs) in 2006-07 and 2007-08 are set out in the following table. The table includes the indicative assumptions made before the start of each year about gross budgets and patient charge income. A number of factors will affect the actual levels of gross expenditure and patient charge income, including the levels of dentistry commissioned by PCTs, the time needed for new dental services to be commissioned and come into operation, and changes in the mix of charge-paying and charge exempt patients treated. PCTs may direct additional funding to dentistry from their general national health service resources if they consider this appropriate in the light of local circumstances and priorities.
	
		
			  Primary dental service allocations in Wiltshire and Swindon PCTs 
			  000 
			   Wiltshire PCT  Swindon PCT 
			  Financial year  Net allocation  Indicative patient charge revenue  Indicative gross budget  Net allocation  Indicative patient charge revenue  Indicative gross budget 
			 2006-07 10,727 4,479 15,205 4,418 2,141 6,559 
			 2007-08 11,366 4,439 15,805 4,781 2,135 6,916 
			  Notes: 1. The allocation for Wiltshire PCT for 2006-07 represents the aggregate of the primary dental service allocations initially allocated to the Kennet and North Wiltshire, South Wiltshire, and West Wiltshire PCTs before their amalgamation to form the Wiltshire PCT on 1 October 2006. 2. Allocations exclude any supplementary funding awarded by the South West strategic health authority to fund the placement of dental vocational trainees.

Diabetes: Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of people identified as having diabetes in England were offered screening for the early detection of diabetic retinopathy in  (a) each year since 2003-04 and  (b) the most recent period for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: The following table shows the number and percentage of people with diabetes offered screening for diabetic retinopathy, broken down by years.
	
		
			   Number of people with diabetes offered screening for diabetic retinopathy( 1)  Percentage of people with diabetes offered screening for diabetic retinopathy( 1) 
			 2003-04 835,900 52.7 
			 2004-05 1,076,400 61.3 
			 2005-06 1,478,223 78.4 
			 (1) Data from local delivery plans returns 
		
	
	Latest data for December 2006 show that 1,477,359 people, 81.1 per cent. of people with diabetes, have been offered screening for diabetic retinopathy.

Drugs: Prisons

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many detainees began clinical drug treatment in prisons in  (a) detoxification programmes and  (b) extended prescribing programmes in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: In the year 2005-06, 53,773 prisoners entered prison detoxification and drug maintenance programmes.
	This figure is an aggregation of detoxification and extended prescribing programmes. These two interventions will be reported separately from April 2007.
	 Note:
	P Simon data can fluctuate as prison establishments finalise their entries.
	 Source:
	P Simon database, HM Prison Service.

Eyesight: Diseases

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she made of the number of sufferers from macular degenerative disease in Hartlepool; and what steps she plans to take to provide sufferers with treatment to alleviate the condition.

Rosie Winterton: The number of sufferers of macular degenerative disease in Hartlepool is not collected centrally.
	In September 2003, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommended the use of Visudyne in photodynamic therapy for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration in some patients. All primary care trusts (PCTs) are funding this treatment in accordance with NICE's guidance.
	NICE is currently appraising two new drug treatments that have been developed for treating age-related macular degenerationMacugen and Lucentis. NICE is expected to publish guidance in September this year. We have made it quite clear to the national health service that treatment should not be withheld simply because NICE has not issued guidance. Until NICE issues final guidance NHS bodies should continue with local arrangements for introducing new technologies, based on an assessment of the available evidence.

Eyesight: Testing

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Government has spent to provide free eye tests to pensioners in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: An estimate of national health service expenditure on sight tests for patients aged 60 and over is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   NHS expenditure on sight test provision for adults aged 60+ ( million) 
			 1999-2000 52.2 
			 2000-01 60.7 
			 2001-02 66.5 
			 2002-03 70.0 
			 2003-04 76.3 
			 2004-05 80.2 
			 2005-06 84.9 
		
	
	Free sight tests were extended to all those aged 60 and over from 1 April 1999. Prior to that, a number of patients of pensionable age would have qualified for NHS sight tests on other grounds, such as low income or because they had been diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma, but data collected centrally did not differentiate such groups by age.
	The figures in the table are based on the number who claimed entitlement by virtue of their age. The totals are likely to include those who might otherwise have qualified for sight tests on grounds such as low income.
	Expenditure on sight test provision includes expenditure on domiciliary visit fees, employers' superannuation costs, and help given to certain patients towards the cost of private sight tests.

Folic Acid

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her most recent estimate is of the take-up of folic acid in women of child bearing age in socio-economic groups C2 and DE; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The most recent information available on folate intakes is from the 2000-01 National Diet and Nutrition Survey of adults aged 19-64 years. In this survey households in receipt of income-related state benefits can be used as a broad indicator of socio-economic group. The survey shows that mean folate intake from food sources in women of child bearing age (19-49 years) living in households in which someone was in receipt of benefits was 214 micrograms/day. When the contribution of folic acid supplements was included mean intake in this group increased to 221 micrograms/day. This level of intake is below the recommendation for women who could become pregnant to take a 400 micrograms/folic acid supplement.
	The Food Standards Agency has undertaken a survey of diet and nutrition in low income/materially deprived consumers in the United Kingdom. Results, to be published later this year, will include folate intakes.

Health Services: East Riding

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the impact on the finances of the East Riding of Yorkshire Primary Care Trust of the number of temporary residents.

Andy Burnham: Arrangements are in place to enable payment for emergency treatment for those patients who are not normally resident in the area. For English patients who are treated as emergencies, their responsible primary care trust (PCT) is invoiced for the activity directly by the national health service organisation concerned ensuring that the host PCTs are not burdened with the payment for material costs of hospital activity. This guidance also covers the payment arrangements for charge-exempt overseas visitors. This includes all those visitors who are covered under international bilateral healthcare agreements, including European Economic Area arrangements.

Health Services: Equality

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date the Race Equality Impact Assessment for part II of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (Patient and Public Involvement in Health and Social Care) was prepared.

Rosie Winterton: The Race Equality Impact Assessment for patient and public involvement in health and social care was published as part of the regulatory impact assessment for the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill on 11 December 2006.

Heart Diseases: Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in  (a) Tamworth constituency,  (b) the West Midlands and  (c) Staffordshire have been treated for heart disease in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not available in the format requested.
	However, information relating to finished consultant episodes (FCE) with a primary diagnosis of heart disease for the relevant organisations for 2001-02 to 2005-06 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  National health service hospitals England 
			   Tamworth, Burntwood and Lichfield Primary Care Trust  Staffordshire  West Midlands 
			 2001-02 1,829 12,411 68,596 
			 2002-03 1,834 12,294 74,248 
			 2003-04 1,775 12,519 74,337 
			 2004-05 1,886 12,663 74,429 
			 2005-06 2,069 12,855 78,540 
			  Notes:  Finished consultant episode (FCE) An FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.  Diagnosis (primary diagnosis) The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (7 prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.  Primary care trust (PCT) and strategic health authority (SHA) data quality PCT and SHA data were added to historic data-years in the HES database using 2002-03 boundaries, as a one-off exercise in 2004. The quality of the data on PCT of Treatment and SHA of Treatment is poor in 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99, with over a third of all finished episodes having missing values in these years. Data quality of PCT of GP practice and SHA of GP practice in 1997-98 and 1998-99 is also poor, with a high proportion missing values where practices changed or ceased to exist. There is less change in completeness of the residence-based fields over time, where the majority of unknown values are due to missing postcodes on birth episodes. Users of time series analysis including these years need to be aware of these issues in their interpretation of the data.  Data quality Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. Whilst this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Ungrossed data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for health and social care.

Hospital Closures: Media Interests

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 29 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1787W, on hospital closures: media interest, what methodology was used to arrive at predictions of media interest as indicated on the heat maps released by her Department on 7 November 2006.

Andy Burnham: As was stated in the earlier answer, the Department uses a range of methods to monitor media activity. The maps were produced following routine discussions with strategic health authorities (SHAs) and gave an indication of possible future local media coverage of health issues by SHA.

Hyperactivity: Medical Treatments

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations her Department has received on the use of diet and brain exercise to control developmental conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Ivan Lewis: No such representations have been received.
	The Department is not aware of any satisfactory research into the effects of stimulatory exercises in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
	There is some limited evidence for the value of elimination diets that seek to exclude foods to which intolerance exists, but an elimination diet will only help a minority of children and can be difficult to apply. A study on the impact of food supplements on the incidence of aggressive behaviour among young people in custody has demonstrated positive results but further research is required and the study was not specifically focused on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Maternity Services

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates she has made of the cost of  (a) increasing medical research into preventing premature birth and  (b) caring for babies who are born prematurely.

Ivan Lewis: None. The National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit at the University of Oxford, set up and supported by the Department, is however undertaking a study on the long-term economic costs of pre-term birth financed by an award from the charity Tommy's.

Medical Equipment: VAT

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will extend the range of reduced rate reliefs for VAT on goods and services normally intended to relieve or treat disability for the exclusive personal use of people with disabilities under the sixth EC Directive.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	There is a wide range of goods and services supplied to disabled people for their personal use on which VAT is not chargeable. This includes certain building alterations to a disabled person's home, wheelchairs and mobility scooters, and equipment designed solely for use by a disabled person.
	Under the VAT agreements with our European partners, signed by successive Governments, we can retain our existing VAT zero rates, but we may not extend them or introduce new ones. It is therefore not possible to remove VAT from additional goods and services purchased for the exclusive personal use of a disabled person
	More generally, the Government are carefully considering evidence presented in the recent Low Incomes Tax Reform Group's report 'VAT and disabled people' - the changes, including new reduced rates, would be consistent with our European VAT agreements and well-targeted and cost-effective when compared with the range of support already provided for people with disabilities.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Minister of State, Department of Health, the hon. Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 27 February 2007, on GP prescriptions and labelling by pharmacists.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 27 April 2007
	 I regret the letter was not received by the Department. The hon. Member has now forwarded a copy. I will arrange for it to be dealt with urgently.

Mental Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent assessment she has made of the use by the NHS of the computerised cognitive behavioural therapies  (a) Beating the Blues,  (b) COPE,  (c) Overcoming Depression,  (d) FearFighter and  (e) OCFighter; and whether the packages are supplied to the NHS through the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency in each case;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the number of referrals for computerised cognitive behavioural therapies in the NHS in the latest period for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: These computerised cognitive behavioural therapies (cCBT) packages were reviewed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), in Technology Appraisal 097 in February 2006. NICE recommended the use of Beating the Blues in the management of mild to moderate depression and FearFighter as an option for delivering cognitive behavioural therapy in managing panic and phobia.
	NICE decided that there was insufficient evidence for it to recommend the use of COPE and Overcoming Depression as clinically or cost-effective options for managing depression, except as part of ongoing or new clinical trials that are designed to generate robust, relevant data on the clinical effectiveness of these specific cCBT packages.
	OCFighter (previously known as BTSteps) was not recommended for delivering cognitive behavioural therapy in managing obsessive compulsive disorder. Where people are currently using OCFighter, whether as routine therapy or as part of a clinical trial, they should be allowed to choose to continue this therapy until the patient, general practitioner and/or specialist, consider it appropriate to stop. NICE will consider reviewing this guidance in September 2008.
	We have worked with suppliers and the National Health Service Purchasing and Supplies Agency in negotiating a framework agreement and tariff to ensure that the NHS can provide Beating the Blues and FearFighter in a cost effective and value for money way.
	Information on the number of referrals made for cCBT is not collected centrally. However, as part of the implementation guidance which we launched on 28 March, a demand estimate tool has been developed which helps commissioners to establish the likely demand for cCBT in their local areas. This calculates the number of people who are likely to have mental heath conditions which will respond to cCBT, like depression or phobias and also estimates the number who might want to use this technology.

Mental Health Services

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the delivery of mental health in-patient and day care in the NHS.

Rosie Winterton: Since the publication of the National Service Framework for Mental Health in 1999, mental health services in England have seen significant improvements, particularly in access to specialist community-based services that aim to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and the length of in-patient stays. However, in-patient services remain a key element of mental health service provision and a national acute in-patient mental health programme, which is hosted by the Care Services Improvement Partnership and supported by its regional infrastructure, is helping local services in implementing the Department's policy implementation guidance published in 2002. The Department has also announced that over 2006-07 and 2007-08, 130 million of extra capital investment would be targeted to upgrade the mental health estate, particularly in improving psychiatric intensive care units and places of safety for assessment under the Mental Health Act 1983 and enhancing the sexual safety of women.
	In recognition of the important role they play in promoting and facilitating social inclusion, the Department published a good practice guidance on commissioning of day services in 2006. The aim of this guidance is to improve access to mainstream opportunities for people with mental health problems in closer partnership with other agencies and organisations including the voluntary and community sector. The national social inclusion programme, also hosted by the Care Services Improvement Partnership and supported by its regional infrastructure, is helping local services in implementing this guidance in line with their assessment of local need.

Mental Health Services: Acute Beds

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute mental health beds there were in the NHS in each of the last 10 years.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton) on 5 February 2007,  Official Report, columns 804-05W.

Mental Health Services: Sexual Offences

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of in-patients accessing mental health services who made allegations of rape or sexual assault  (a) were offered and  (b) received specialist counselling in the latest period for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not centrally available.

Mentally Ill: Greater London

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in each London borough were diagnosed as having a mental health disorder in each of the last 10 years.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not held centrally.

Mentally Ill: Young People

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) males and  (b) females between the ages of 16 and 25 were diagnosed with a mental illness in England in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not held centrally.

Midwives: Recruitment

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwives were  (a) trained and  (b) recruited in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows the number of students who entered training to be a midwife in each of the last three years. The Department does not collect centrally information on how many of these found employment as a midwife.
	On 3 April 2007, the Department published Maternity matters: choice, access and continuity of care in a safe service highlighting the Government's commitment to developing and enhancing national health service maternity services and the role of the work force, including midwives, in improving maternity services.
	
		
			  Pre-registration midwifery training commissions 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Degree 753 895 1,042 
			 Diploma 716 744 517 
			 Other 757 735 661 
			 Total 2,226 2,374 2,220 
			  Source: Quarterly Monitoring Returns

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost of delivering an equivalent episode of care was in  (a) 1979,  (b) 1997 and  (c) the most recent period for which figures are available, at constant prices.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is not available.

NHS: Foreign Workers

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many non-EU nationals were employed in the NHS in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected centrally.

NHS: Private Sector

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her policy is on providing an independent sector treatment centre for North Essex; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The Department is working with the East of England strategic health authority to deliver independent sector treatment centre (ISTC) services in Essex. It is currently anticipated that there will be three ISTCs in the region located in Braintree, Basildon and Southend.
	The aims of the Department's ISTC programme are to:
	help provide capacity to deliver swift access to treatment for national health service patients;
	support the implementation of patient choice;
	stimulate innovative models of service delivery and drive up productivity; and
	introduce contestability between providers of healthcare services for NHS patients.

Pregnant Women: Depression

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support is provided by the national health service to pregnant women who are suffering depression during pregnancy; what research has been  (a) funded and  (b) carried out by her Department on whether there is a link between depression in pregnant women and (i) premature births, (ii) infant death and (iii) severe childhood illness; when her Department last undertook an evidence review on the issue that drew on (A) UK and (B) international research; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Women who experience mental health problems during or after pregnancy can access the full range of mental health services available in primary and secondary care. The Department has issued guidance, Mainstreaming gender and women's mental health: implementation guidance (DH, 2003), that highlights the need for effective perinatal psychiatric care, specifically the need to develop local care pathways, maternity and psychiatry protocols, access to perinatal psychiatric assessment and adequate mother and baby unit provision based on assessment of local need. Care services improvement partnerships' national programme on gender equality and women's mental health is helping local services to implement the recommendations of this guidance. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) also made recommendations in its recent guidance, Antenatal and postnatal mental health (NICE, 2007) to improve services for women who experience mental health problems during or after pregnancy.
	The Department has not funded any such research. However, the Medical Research Council (MRC), which is one of the main agencies through which the United Kingdom Government supports medical and clinical research, has recently funded a study entitled Comparison of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in depressed and healthy pregnant women. The study was led by Dr. Veronica Keane at the Institute of Psychiatry and received MRC funding of 157,700. It was completed in 2006.
	The study found results suggesting that depressed women had higher cortisol stress hormones, particularly a hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy (corticotropin releasing-hormone) and that this was associated with earlier delivery of babies in the depressed women. The applicants intend to submit follow up studies to the MRC.
	The Government do not routinely and systematically compare the research they fund in different disease areas with equivalent research in other countries.

Resource Allocation

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2007,  Official Report, column 2219W, on resource allocation, for what reasons she excludes any measure of ill health in those aged 75 and over in her measure of the burden of disease.

Andy Burnham: The definition of burden of disease used for the previous reply is one of a number of possible definitions. It includes one element, diabetes prevalence, which is not age related, and therefore does include persons aged 75 and over. The other three measures are premature mortality rates for major killer diseases. They reflect the current public service agreement targets to reduce cancer and circulatory disease death rates in people aged under 75 by 2010. It is in the under 75 age group where the earliest signs of progress are likely to be seen, although the health interventions to reduce mortality in this age group will also have a beneficial effect on people aged 75 and over.

Smoking: Public Places

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken to inform owners of restaurants, hotels and pubs of the smoking ban coming into place on 1 July.

Caroline Flint: Through the Smokefree England campaign, the Department is delivering a major communications campaign to support businesses to be prepared for the implementation of smokefree legislation on 1 July 2007. Recent surveys by the Department show extremely high levels of awareness among the hospitality industry and customers.
	Information on the new law is available from the freephone Smokefree England information line on 0800 169 169 7 and on the Smokefree England website at:
	www.smokefreeengland.co.uk
	The website has received nearly 250,000 visits to date.
	The Department has developed a range of guides on the new law. A guidance pack, including a guide, no-smoking signs and other support materials is being sent to all businesses in England that employ staff during April. Guidance documents can be downloaded from the Smokefree England website, and will be available in a range of different languages and formats, including a downloadable MP3 audio version.
	A Ministerial Reference Group comprised of key stakeholders was created last year to facilitate dialogue between business groups including representatives from the hospitality industry, local government and the Department, and has met regularly. The Department also continues to work closely with organisations that represent the hospitality industry to increase awareness of the new legislation among their constituents.
	Local councils are also working to build compliance in their communities. Local businesses are advised to contact their local council for advice and support in implementing smokefree legislation.

TREASURY

11 Downing Street: Costs

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the costs of running No. 11 Downing street were in 2005-06.

John Healey: By long-standing arrangement, the Treasury pays a contribution to the Cabinet Office for the rent and service charge of the space used by HM Treasury and by the Chancellor of the Exchequer within the Downing street estate, including the No. 11 state rooms and offices and the No. 10 residence. This comprises 14.4 per cent. of the total estate. For 2005-06, this contribution totalled 318,338.

Bank Services: Fees and Charges

Don Touhig: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints the Financial Ombudsman Service received on bank charges in each of the last five years.

Edward Balls: The Financial Services Ombudsman (FOS) is operationally independent of the Government. I understand that over the past five years the FOS has collated data on the basis of current account complaints, not specific complaints on bank charges. The number of complaints relating to current accounts to year-end March was:
	
		
			   Number of complaints 
			 2006 3,543 
			 2005 2,521 
			 2004 2,106 
			 2003 1,602 
			 2002 1,280 
		
	
	Data on inquiries relating specifically to bank charges were collated from September 2006. The number of inquires received relating to bank charges from September 2006 to March 2007 was 150,917.

Bank Services: Fees and Charges

Don Touhig: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps have been taken to reduce the charges to customers of high street banks.

Edward Balls: The Office of Fair Trading, which is an independent body, is currently carrying out an inquiry into these charges under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations (1999). It would not be appropriate for Government to comment.

Child Benefit: Middlesbrough

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in  (a) the North East and  (b) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland are eligible for child benefit; and how many are lone parents in each case.

Stephen Timms: Figures showing the number of families receiving child benefit (CB) at regional and parliamentary constituency level for the UK are published on the HMRC website:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/child_benefit/geographical.htm
	Figures showing the number of families eligible to claim CB are not available at these levels of geography.
	Whether or not a CB recipient is currently a single parent or part of a couple is not recorded on the CB system as after 5 July 1998 it did not affect the level of award.

Child Trust Fund: Middlesbrough

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of children in  (a) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland and  (b) the Tees Valley have received a Child Trust Fund account since 1 September 2002.

Edward Balls: All children born on or after 1 September 2002 are eligible for the Child Trust Fund as long as they are in receipt of child benefit, live in the UK and they are not subject to any immigration restrictions. Special arrangements are in place for looked-after children. All eligible children will receive a Child Trust Fund account whether opened by parents or the Government on their behalf.
	Constituency and regional data on Child Trust Fund accounts were published on 11 January 2007 and can be viewed on the HM Revenue and Customs' website at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/ctf/stats.htm

Crossrail Line: Finance

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to take a final decision on the funding of Crossrail.

Edward Balls: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 17 April 2007,  Official Report, column 625W.

Deborah Mattinson

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what role Deborah Mattinson played in arranging his recent speeches to  (a) the Equal Opportunities Commission and  (b) the Green Alliance.

John Healey: holding answer 23 March 2007
	The Chancellor's speeches were organised by the Treasury. The events themselves were organized by the EOC and Green Alliance.

Debts

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he introduced in the 2007 Budget to reduce public debt.

John Healey: The Budget forecast for public sector net debt incorporates the impact of all the Budget measures. Public sector net debt is projected to be low and stable over the projection period, stabilising below 39 per cent. below the 40 per cent. ceiling set out in the sustainable investment rule.

Departmental Trips: Eurostar

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many trips by Eurostar have been undertaken by staff in his Department in the last 12 months; and at what total cost.

John Healey: Information on the number of Eurostar train tickets purchased is normally not held, because the Treasury's accounting system records the costs of travel but not the number or type of tickets bought. However, for financial year 2005-06, the Treasury's travel management company had provided information on the number of tickets purchased through them.
	The number of Eurostar train tickets bought through the travel management company in 2005-06 was 2,750 costing 463,455. Tickets bought but subsequently refunded are excluded; round trips by train are counted as two tickets; tickets bought and subsequently exchanged for another journey are counted as one ticket.
	Some tickets are bought directly by the traveller, so this information is not a complete record of all travel tickets bought by the Treasury.

Departments: Buildings

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many buildings are owned by his Department; and how each is grade listed.

John Healey: The Treasury owns one building, 1 Horse Guards Road, which is subject to a private finance initiative contract. Details of the contract can be found in HM Treasury's 2005-06 Resource Account HC 1344. The building is grade II* listed.

Departments: Consultants

Alan Meale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has spent on external consultants in the 2006-07 financial year.

John Healey: For the purposes of this answer, this question is taken to refer to all contracted out professional services and professional staff substitution. In the first 10 months of 2006-07, the Treasury spent 4.93 million on these services. This includes fees paid to Partnerships UK for their work providing project and policy support to the Treasury and other public bodies on the development, procurement and implementation of public private partnerships.

Departments: Electricity

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on electricity consumption in 2006-07.

John Healey: The total spent on electricity consumption in 2006-07 by HM Treasury was approximately 450,000.

Departments: Freedom of Information

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the total cost has been of appealing against Freedom of Information Act requests submitted to HM Treasury since 1 January 2005, including appeals to the Information Commissioner, broken down by  (a) internal costs and  (b) external legal costs;
	(2)  what the  (a) date,  (b) value and  (c) recipient was of each payment for external legal advice, support or representation in response to the Freedom of Information Act request by  The Times newspaper that was released on 30 March 2007;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the total amount of staff time spent on the Freedom of Information Act request by  The Times newspaper that was released on 30 March 2007, broken down into time spent on  (a) internal reviews,  (b) contesting the application with the Information Commissioner and  (c) appealing against the Information Commissioner's rulings;
	(4)  what estimate he has made of the total cost to the public purse of opposing the Freedom of Information Act request by  The Times newspaper that was released on 30 March 2007, broken down into costs associated with  (a) internal reviews,  (b) contesting the application with the Information Commissioner and  (c) appealing against the Information Commissioner's rulings.

John Healey: holding answer 23 April 2007
	The cost of legal counsel in all Treasury cases taken to the Information Commissioner and the Information Tribunal to date is 3,715, of which 2,399 was due to the case referred to. Information on staff time spent on individual cases is not held centrally.

Departments: Official Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 23 April 2007,  Official Report, column 982W on Departments: official hospitality, what definition the Department uses of casual drinks.

John Healey: The definition of casual drinks used by the Treasury in determining eligibility for official hospitality is drinks taken without food.

Departments: Official Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 23 April 2007,  Official Report, column 982W on Departments: official hospitality, at what functions with external guests present other than lunch or dinner the Department has  (a) spent hospitality funds and  (b) provided alcohol.

John Healey: The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Poverty

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to lift children and families from below the poverty line.

Stephen Timms: The Treasury contributes to the strategy for halving and eradicating child poverty as set out in the Child Poverty Review, published alongside the 2004 Spending Review White Paper (Cm 6237). Across the UK, these measures have helped lift 600,000 children out of poverty since 1998-99.
	Budget 2007 announced a package of further reforms to the tax and benefit system that will:
	benefit families by an average of 200 per year;
	benefit families in the poorest fifth of the population by an average of 350 per year; and
	lift 200,000 children out of poverty.

Departments: Renewable Energy

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much energy in kilowatt hours was purchased by his Department from renewable sources in the most recent year for which figures are available.

John Healey: All the energy purchased by the Treasury is purchased from renewable sources. In 2006-07, the Treasury purchased 7,089,501 kwh of electricity from renewable sources.

Departments: Stationary

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on  (a) branded and  (b) non-branded stationery in 2006-07.

John Healey: The Treasury's accounting systems do not differentiate between branded and non-branded stationery. The total spent by HM Treasury on stationery supplies in 2006-07 was 289,000.

Departments: Written Questions

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many written parliamentary questions his Department took longer than 10 days to answer in 2006-07.

John Healey: 10 days has no particular significance in relation to the answering of parliamentary questions. As any period of 10 days will include at least one weekend and may also include other days on which the House of Commons may not be sitting and questions cannot be answered, it is a meaningless yardstick against which to measure performance in answering questions. In 2006-07, questions tabled shortly before the Christmas, February and Easter recesses did not fall for answer until after the 10-day point.
	In the present session, 80.4 per cent. of the written questions to the Treasury have been answered within the timescales set by the Housethat is to say, on the nominated day in the case of named day questions and within a working week of tabling for ordinary questions.

Drugs: Death

David Ruffley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many drug-related deaths were recorded in  (a) Suffolk,  (b) Bedfordshire,  (c) Cambridgeshire,  (d) Essex,  (e) Hertfordshire and  (f) Norfolk in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 1 May 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many drug-related deaths were recorded in (a) Suffolk, (b) Bedfordshire (c) Cambridgeshire, (d) Essex, (e) Hertfordshire and (f) Norfolk in each year since 1997. I am replying in her absence. (134654)
	Available figures relate to the number of deaths from poisoning with any drug or medicine or certified as drug abuse or dependence. They do not include deaths which may be indirectly related to drug use, such as blood-borne viral infections or transport accidents. The most recent year for which figures are now available is 2005. The table below shows the number of deaths for which the underlying cause was drug-related poisoning, by selected county for the years 1997 to 2005.
	ONS recently revised statistics on drug poisoning deaths to include all deaths registered in the calendar year,* instead of deaths occurring in the year. This takes account of late registrations which would otherwise be excluded.
	* Office for National Statistics (2007) Deaths related to drug poisoning: England and Wales. 1993-2005. Health Statistics Quarterly 33. S2-S8.
	
		
			  Number of deaths from drug-related poisoning,( 1)  by selected county,( 2)  1997 to 2005( 3) 
			   (a) Suffolk  (b) Bedfor d shire  (c) Cambridgeshire  (d) Essex  (e) Hertfordshire  (f) Norfolk 
			 1997 44 15 19 53 49 50 
			 1998 30 18 28 42 35 59 
			 1999 33 14 22 56 48 61 
			 2000 24 17 28 50 38 51 
			 2001 32 19 23 56 41 57 
			 2002 28 21 28 29 46 48 
			 2003 35 12 23 45 57 34 
			 2004 29 20 29 32 50 49 
			 2005 25 15 26 47 43 60 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 292, 304, 305.2-305.9, E850-E858, E950.0-E950.5, E962.0 and E980.0-E980.5 for the years 1997 to 2000. and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-IO) codes Fl 1-F16, F18-F19, X40-X44, X60-X64, X85 and Y10-YJ4from 2001 onwards. (2) Usual residents of the county. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Economic Situation

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his forecasts are for non-oil gross value added growth in each year to 2012; and what the  (a) lowest and  (b) highest projections are to a (i) 0.5 per cent., (ii) 1 per cent., (iii) 2 per cent., (iv) 5 per cent., (v) 10 per cent., (vi) 25 per cent. and (vii) 50 per cent. level of statistical significance.

John Healey: HM Treasury sets out its economic forecasts twice a year in Budget and pre-Budget reports. The Treasury does not publish frequency distributions around its forecasts. However, it does provide average absolute errors over the past 10 years. These are shown in Table B10 of Chapter B: The economy of Budget 2007 (HC 342) for spring forecasts, and Table A10 of Annex A: The economy of the 2006 Pre-Budget Report (Cm 6984) for autumn forecasts.

Economics: Teaching Aids

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on Welsh language versions of his Department's Red Box  (a) website and  (b) teaching packs in each year since 2002.

John Healey: Expenditure on Welsh language versions of the Red Box was as follows:
	
		
			
			  (a) Website  
			 2002 8,000 
			 2007 8,000 
			  (b) Teaching packs  
			 2002 7,735 
			 2005 8,900 
		
	
	No expenditure was incurred in other years.

Employment

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the size of the  (a) working age and  (b) economically active population in each of the last 30 years, broken down by gender.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 1 May 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the working age population and the economically active population over the last thirty years. 1 am replying in her absence. (134616)
	The attached table gives the working age population by gender from 1978 to 2005 which are based on mid-year population estimates. Mid-2005 population estimates are the latest available. The table also shows the numbers and rates of economically active people of working age by gender for the three months ending February of each year. The ONS uses the Labour Force Survey (LFS) to measure economic activity and this data is seasonally adjusted. As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty
	The LFS publishes numbers of economic activity each month in the Labour Market First Release, in summary table 1. The latest Release can be found at:
	http ://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/product.asp?vlnk=8292
	
		
			  Working age population( 1)  and economic activity by gender 1978 to 2007, United Kingdom 
			  Thousand and percentage 
			   Working age population( 2)  Mid year estimates (Thousand)  Economically active( 3)  (Thousand)  Economic activity rates( 4)  (Percentage) 
			   All persons  Men  Women  All persons  Men  Women  All persons  Men  Women 
			 1978 33,172 17,311 15,861 25,542 15,686 9,856 78.4 92.5 63.2 
			 1979 33,436 17,423 16,013 25,713 15,669 10,045 78.3 91.8 63.7 
			 1980 33,607 17,539 16,068 25,923 15,676 10,247 78.4 91.2 64.5 
			 1981 33,780 17,646 16,134 26,157 15,809 10,347 78.6 91.3 64.8 
			 1982 33,916 17,735 16,181 26,067 15,715 10,353 77.9 90.2 64.6 
			 1983 34,160 17,891 16,269 25,857 15,575 10,282 76.9 88.7 63.9 
			 1984 34,416 18,051 16,365 26,477 15,709 10,768 78.1 88.7 66.5 
			 1985 34,586 18,105 16,481 26,896 15,837 11,059 78.8 88.9 67.9 
			 1986 34,725 18,142 16,583 27,063 15,793 11,269 78.9 88.4 68.7 
			 1987 34,877 18,194 16,683 27,302 15,795 11,507 79.3 88.1 69.7 
			 1988 34,983 18,232 16,751 27,633 15,925 11,708 79.9 88.6 70.5 
			 1989 35,079 18,268 16,811 27,886 15,974 11,912 80.4 88.7 71.5 
			 1990 35,147 18,300 16,847 28,049 16,032 12,016 80.7 88.8 71.9 
			 1991 35,197 18,303 16,894 28,002 15,953 12,049 80.4 88.2 71.9 
			 1992 35,206 18,288 16,918 27,636 15,730 11,906 79.2 87.0 70.9 
			 1993 35,208 18,270 16,938 27,505 15,580 11,925 78.8 86.2 70.9 
			 1994 35,256 18,267 16,989 27,405 15,456 11,949 78.5 85.6 70.9 
			 1995 35,366 18,317 17,049 27,312 15,357 11,956 78.1 84.9 70.7 
			 1996 35,498 18,375 17,123 27,533 15,411 12,123 78.4 85.0 71.4 
			 1997 35,624 18,428 17,196 27,651 15,394 12,257 78.5 84.7 71.9 
			 1998 35,746 18,486 17,260 27,683 15,394 12,289 78.3 84.4 71.8 
			 1999 35,928 18,582 17,346 28,005 15,503 12,502 78.8 84.7 72.7 
			 2000 36,138 18,685 17,453 28,141 15,538 12,603 78.8 84.4 72.8 
			 2001 36,406 18,827 17,579 28,312 15,631 12,681 78.8 84.3 72.8 
			 2002 36,622 18,945 17,677 28,407 15,658 12,749 78.5 83.9 72.7 
			 2003 36,828 19,068 17,760 28,606 15,750 12,856 78.6 83.9 73.0 
			 2004 37,064 19,210 17,854 28,821 15,843 12,978 78.7 83.8 73.3 
			 2005 37,368 19,390 17,978 29,069 15,950 13,119 78.8 83.7 73.6 
			 2006 (5) (5) (5) 29,022 15,952 13,071 78.6 83.6 73.3 
			 2007 (5) (5) (5) 28,9.95 15,936 13,059 78.5 83.5 73.2 
			 (1 )Men aged 16 to 64 and women age 16 to 59. (2 )Mid-year population estimates. It should be noted that 2005 are the latest available population estimates. (3 )December-February LFS seasonally adjusted estimate. (4 )Economically active as a percentage of all persons of working age. Economic activity rates are based on LFS household population estimates, not mid-year population estimates, (5 )Estimates not available.  Source:  ONS Labour Force Survey (LFS) and Mid-year population estimates

Excise Duty: Alcoholic Drinks

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the reasons were for the recent change in the rate of duty on  (a) beer and  (b) wine.

John Healey: Duty on beer and wine was increased in line with inflation at the Budget to maintain revenue levels and support the Government's spending priorities.

Four Wheeled-drive Cars

Jane Kennedy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will visit the Halewood site of the production of the Land Rover Freelander 2 to discuss with managers and trade union representatives the impact of green taxes on the production of high-performance and four wheeled-drive motor cars with managers and trade union representatives.

John Healey: The Chancellor and I meet with representatives of the vehicle manufacturing industry and trade unions on a regular basis, on a range of issues of common interest. We will happily continue to meet representatives of the motor industries to discuss these issues.

Gambling: Taxation

Anne Milton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the total receipts from betting and gaming duties were in 2005-06; and what his Department's forecasts are for total gaming duty receipts in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08;
	(2)  what his Department's forecasts are for total remote gaming duty receipts in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08;
	(3)  what proportion of forecast total gaming duty receipts are expected to be accounted for by remote gaming duty in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08.

Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the effect on Exchequer revenues of the introduction of a remote gaming duty of 15 per cent., broken down by  (a) internet,  (b) telephone and  (c) interactive television gambling; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Revenues from gambling taxes are published in the HM Revenue and Customs Betting, Gaming and Lottery Duties Bulletin, available at:
	http://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=bullbett
	Revenue estimates of the Budget changes to gambling taxation were published in the 2007 Financial Statement and Budget Report.

Gambling: Taxation

Nick Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the tax burden on  (a) bookmakers,  (b) bingo clubs and  (c) casinos; and what his policy is on the harmonisation of gaming tax across different forms of gaming.

John Healey: Revenues from gambling taxes are published in the HM Revenue and Customs Betting, Gaming and Lottery Duties Bulletin, available at http://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=bullbett. Bookmakers, bingo clubs and casinos are also subject to the usual taxes imposed on business.
	The Government take all relevant factors into consideration when establishing and maintaining fair regimes for the gambling taxes.

Gift Aid

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 23 April 2007,  Official Report, columns 983-84W, on Gift Aid, 
	(1)  whether the predicted increase of 0.4 billion in Gift Aid in 2007-08 takes into account the reduction of two per cent. in the basic rate income tax; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the evidential basis was for the assumption that Gift Aid would increase by 5.6 per cent. in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The figures provided relate to the year 2007-08. The change to the basic rate of income tax announced in the Budget, takes effect from 2008-09.
	The estimate of 5.6 per cent. increase for 2007-08 is informed by the Treasury's latest projections for average earnings growth and employment growth, which are consistent with the assumptions for trend output growth published in chapter B of Budget 2007.
	As announced by the Chancellor in his recent Budget speech, the Government will consult with the charitable sector on measures to increase take-up of gift aid.

Government Services

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the average  (a) lifetime incomes,  (b) lifetime tax revenues and  (c) lifetime consumption of Government services of (i) men and (ii) women born in (A) 2000, (B) 1990 and (C) 1980.

John Healey: The information requested is not available.

Government Services

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the  (a) tax revenues paid by,  (b) income and  (c) consumption of Government services, broken down by type, of (i) a representative man and (ii) a representative woman born in (A) 2000, (B) 1990 and (C) 1980, with reference to the assumptions outlined in Chapter 4 of Long Term Public Finance Report 2006.

John Healey: The spending and revenue projections given in the long-term public finance report are purely forward looking. The report does not include the type of historical analysis of lifetime tax revenues, income or consumption of government services that would be required to make the estimations outlined in the question.

Health Services: Private Sector

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of private spending on health care in each year since 1997  (a) in cash terms,  (b) in real terms and  (c) as a proportion of gross domestic product.

Stephen Timms: The Office for National Statistics provides information on health spending, including private spending on health care up until 2002, on its website (http://www.statistics.gov.uk/healthaccounts/experimental.asp). The ONS series on private health spending is now discontinued.
	Internal Treasury estimates for later years, based on a number of assumptions for discontinued data series, are in the following table.
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 2003-04 1.3 
			 2004-05 1.3 
			 2005-06 1.3 
			 2006-07 1.2 
			 2007-08 1.2

HM Revenue and Customs: Contracts

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the contractors used by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in the last 12 months operated via  (a) a personal service company and  (b) a managed serviced company; and how much was paid by HMRC in fees to such companies in that period.

John Healey: This information is not available.

HM Revenue and Customs: Wales

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much he expects to make in efficiency savings from changes to the HM Revenue and Customs Service in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: holding answer 24 April 2007
	 HMRC is structured around customers and business functions rather than geographically. Each of HMRC's business directorates is required to contribute to HMRC's overall efficiency savings across the spending review 2004 period, but the requirement is not defined by geographical region.

HM Revenue and Customs: Wales

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much he expects to pay in redundancy payments to staff who lose their jobs through HM Revenue and Customs efficiency savings cuts in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: holding answer 24 April 2007
	HMRC is on track to achieve its 2004 spending review efficiency targets, including net staffing reductions of 12,500 full-time equivalent posts, by April 2008 without recourse to redundancy. HMRC has a no redundancy agreement with the trade unions lasting until at least September 2007. Its aim is to avoid future redundancies if at all possible, principally by continuing to restrict recruitment and to offer approved early retirement schemes.

Housing: Pollution Control

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the oral answer by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury of 23 April 2007,  Official Report, column 662, on zero-carbon homes, if he will quantify the number of zero-carbon homes in the UK.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer the Economic Secretary to the Treasury gave to the hon. Member for Cambridge (David Howarth) on 27 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1511W.

Income Tax

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 23 April 2007,  Official Report, columns 985-6W, on income tax: tax rates and bands, how the figures quoted for the cost of changes in the rate of income tax relate to those on line 22 of table A1, page 208 of the Budget 2007; and whether the same assumptions have been used.

Edward Balls: The answer of 23 April 2007,  Official Report, columns 985-6W, on income tax: tax rates and bands were provided on an accruals basis as stated in the reply. The figures quoted for the cost of changes in the rate of income tax shown on line 22 of table A1, page 208 of the Budget 2007 are based on the same assumptions but have been converted on to a national accounts basis. Paragraph A2.8 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report explains how accruals basis figures are converted on to a national accounts basis.

Income Tax: Middlesbrough

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in  (a) the North East and  (b) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland paid the basic rate of income tax in the 2006-07 tax year.

Edward Balls: The latest estimates for the number of individual income taxpayers by country and region can be found in table 2.2 Number of individual income taxpayers by country and region on HM Revenue and Customs website.
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income tax/menu.htm
	Information on the number of basic rate taxpayers at constituency level is unavailable. Available estimates for the number of individual income taxpayers by constituency be found in table 3.15 Income and tax by Parliamentary Constituency on HM Revenue and Customs website.
	http:/www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/menu-by-year.htm#315.
	The information is based on the Survey of Personal Incomes, of which 2004-05 is the latest available, and projected in line with Budget 2007 assumptions.
	Sample sizes at constituency level are small and estimates can demonstrate a large variability from year to year, therefore any inference from the information in the table for 2004-05 should take into account the confidence intervals in table 3.15a Income and tax by Parliamentary Constituency, Confidence Intervals.

Income Tax: Overpayments

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people claimed overpayments in their income tax payments in each year since 1997; and how many of these claims were successful.

Edward Balls: The total number of repayments made by HM Revenue and Customs in each financial year since 2001-2002 (the data are not held for earlier years) is as follows (this may include more than one repayment to an individual within the same financial year).
	
		
			   Number 
			 2001-02 6,005,339 
			 2002-03 6,451,203 
			 2003-04 6,594,199 
			 2004-05 6,812,662 
			 2005-06 6,310,385 
			 2006-07 5,926,786 
		
	
	HM Revenue and Customs does not hold information on the number of people who have claimed overpayments.

Inflation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take in response to recent trends in the rate of inflation;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the effects of recent trends in the rate of inflation on the British economy.

John Healey: The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of England has operational responsibility for the conduct of monetary policy. Under the Chancellor's remit for the MPC, the operational target for monetary policy is an underlying inflation rate (measured by the 12-month increase in the CPI) of 2 per cent. The remit was last confirmed on 21 March 2007.
	The Treasury's latest assessment of the economy was published in Budget 2007 (HC 342). Since then, Consumer Price Inflation turned out at 3.1 per cent. in March, This prompted an open letter from the Governor of the Bank of England and a reply from the Chancellor which further discussed recent developments and prospects for inflation.
	For its part, the Government will continue to be vigilant and disciplined in the fight against inflation. To that end, the Chancellor announced to Parliament on 1 March 2007 overall headline settlements for public sector workforces covered by Pay Review Bodies are to be less than the 2 per cent. inflation target in 2007-08.

Managed Service Companies

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will publish the research which led his Department to conclude, in Tackling Managed Service Companies of December 2006, that there are 240,000 workers employed by managed service companies;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the research that led him to conclude in the Red Book 2007 that the measures on managed services companies set out in Schedule 3 of the Finance Bill 2007 will yield 350 million to the Exchequer in 2007-08, 450 million in 2008-09 and 250 million in 2009-10.

John Healey: The Government set out their analysis of the problem of workers operating through Managed Service Companies in the consultation document Tackling Managed Service Companies. This was published at the 2006 pre-Budget report. Evidence was gathered from a wide range of businesses and other interested parties during the consultation process. This evidence was incorporated into the regulatory impact assessment published alongside the Finance Bill and set out in Tackling Managed Companies: summary of consultation responses.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to respond to the hon. Member for Billericay's letter dated 5 March on Northlands Park Surestart.

John Healey: holding answer 24 April 2007
	 The correspondence was transferred to the Department for Education and Skills on 16 March and the hon. Member was notified by letter on that date.

National Income: Darlington

Alan Milburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the gross domestic product was per head of the resident population in Darlington in each year since 1992.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 1 May 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita for the resident population of Darlington in each year since 1992. I am replying in her absence. (135015)
	The Office for National Statistics publishes regional Gross Value Added (GVA) rather than regional GDP. GVA is the same as GDP except for excluding taxes and subsidies on products. Estimates of GVA for Darlington on a consistent basis are only available for the period 1995 to 2004. These data are shown in table 1.
	Prior to 1995 regional estimates of GDP were produced on a different accounting basis using different methodology and cannot be used to produce a consistent time series with the later data. GDP on this basis only exists for Darlington for the years 1993 and 1994 and these data are shown in table 2.
	Both data-sets are at current prices, therefore the effects of inflation are not taken into account.
	
		
			  Table 1: GVA per head for Darlington 1995-2004 
			   GVA per head 
			 1995 11,033 
			 1996 11,388 
			 1997 11,837 
			 1998 12,120 
			 1999 12,689 
			 2000 13,270 
			 2001 14,246 
			 2002 14,855 
			 2003 15,605 
			 2004 16,361 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: GDP per head for Darlington 1993-94 
			   GDP per head 
			 1993 9,137 
			 1994 9,667

Pension Credit: Finance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the proposed increase in the pension credit guarantee to 130 by 2010 will be financed.

Edward Balls: The figure of 130 is an estimate of the rate of the pension credit guarantee informed by the Treasury's latest projections for average earnings growth, which are consistent with the assumptions for trend output growth published in chapter B of the 2007 FSBR. The precise rate will be set in the usual way in due course by the annual uprating order, which is subject to affirmative resolution with debates in both Houses. The White Paper, Security in retirement: towards a new pensions system (May 2006) set out the Government's intention to uprate the pension credit guarantee in line with earnings over the long-term and factored this in to the overall projected costs of state pension reform. The Government's spending commitments will be financed in line with the fiscal rules.

Pension Funds

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the total assets of UK pension funds were in each of the last 30 years in  (a) cash terms and  (b) real terms at today's prices;
	(2)  what the annual income of pension funds was in each of the last 30 years; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: The Office for National Statistics' survey of self-administered pension funds collects information on incomes, investment flows by and holdings of self-administered pension funds. The data are published by the ONS in its Investment by insurance companies, pension funds and trusts (MQ5), available at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk

Pensions: Compensation

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the percentage of mis-sold pensions which have been the subject of completed compensatory procedures over the last 20 years; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: This information is not held centrally. The Financial Ombudsman Service publishes figures on the number of cases it deals with each year. In addition, figures issued by the Financial Services Authority show that 1.7 million people have had their cases reviewed in a programme of reviews by authorised firms of personal pensions sold between April 1988 and June 1994.

Pensions: Gurkhas

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect of proposals in the 2007 Budget on the pensions of  (a) serving and  (b) retired Gurkhas; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: Budget 2007 announced a rebalancing of taxation on to polluting activities, and tackling avoidance. This has allowed the Government to simplify the tax system for all and to offer more support for work, families and pensioners.
	The overall effect on Gurkhas resident in the UK will be dependant on the interactions between the different elements of all the reforms contained in the Budget, and the household circumstances of each individual.

Personal Savings

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in  (a) the north east and  (b) Middlesbrough south and east Cleveland have individual savings accounts.

Edward Balls: Latest estimates of the number of people in the north-east holding an ISA are provided in Table 9.12 (Market value of ISA funds: By country and region) on Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/isa/table9_12.htm
	Estimates are not available below Government Office Region level.

Population

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people came to live in the UK in the last 10 years; and how many people have emigrated in that period.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 1 May 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question concerning how many people have come to live in the UK in the last decade; and how many people have emigrated in that period. I am replying in her absence. (133221)
	The Office for National Statistics uses the UN definition of an international migrant as someone who changes their country of usual residence for at least a year so that the country of destination effectively becomes the country of usual residence.
	Total International Migration (TIM) estimates show that for the most recent 10 year period for which data are available (1996-2005), a total of 4,624,000 people migrated to the UK for a year or more and a total of 3,174,000 people emigrated.

Premium Bonds

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total value is of premium bond prize money awarded following the death of the holder held by HM Treasury in non-interest bearing accounts.

Edward Balls: NSI only become aware of the death of a customer if they are notified of it as part of the settlement of the estate of the deceased. Where this happens, the normal practice is for the value of the bonds and any unpaid prizes to be repaid as part of the settlement process. For the remaining unpaid prizes, NSI are unable to distinguish between money which is unclaimed due to a death of which they have not been notified, and that which is unclaimed for other reasons.
	In general terms, however, any premium bond prizes which are unclaimed following three months of the draw are classified as unpaid and are held by NSI for a further 21 months (making a total of two years) on a non-interest bearing basis. NS and I currently hold 5,954,984 on this basis, if the prize is still unclaimed two years after the draw it is transferred to the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt (CRND).

Premium Bonds

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total value was of premium bond prizes won following the death of the holder  (a) in each of the last three years for which figures are available and  (b) in total over the last 30 years.

Edward Balls: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Premium Bonds

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value of premium bond prizes is that were awarded following the death of the bond holder and which were transferred to the National Loans Office in circumstances in which he was authorised to make use of the funds in the last  (a) five years,  (b) 10 years and  (c) 30 years.

Edward Balls: NSI only become aware of the death of a customer if they are notified of it as part of the settlement of the estate of the deceased. Where this happens, the normal practice is for the value of the bonds and any unpaid prizes to be repaid as part of the settlement process. For the remaining unpaid prizes, NSI are unable to distinguish between money that is unclaimed due to a death of which they have not been notified, and that which is unclaimed for other reasons. It is therefore impossible to give an accurate answer to this question.
	In general terms, however, any premium bond prizes which are unclaimed following three months of the draw are classified as unpaid and are held by NSI for a further 21 months (making a total of two years) on a non-interest bearing basis. If the prize is still unclaimed two years after the draw it is transferred to the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt (CRNDformerly part of the National Investment and Loans Office).
	The values for the five, 10 and 30 years periods requested are:
	
		
			
			 Transferred in last 5 years: 5,726,400 
			 Transferred in last 10 years: 13,764,586 
			 Transferred in last 30 years: 25,947,211

Private Finance Initiative: Tax Avoidance

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will bring forward proposals for legislation under which companies bidding for private finance initiative contracts would be required to state publicly that they are not using tax havens to avoid UK taxes;
	(2)  if he will bring forward proposals for legislation under which companies avoiding UK taxes would not be eligible for private finance initiative contracts.

John Healey: The Government have no plans to change current procurement procedures. In developing PFI contracts, Departments are required to apply Treasury guidance set out in the letter of 22 May 2003 to Departments (DAO/Gen 03), which is on the Treasury website at:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/1EF/41/dao0803.pdf

Public Expenditure

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportions of transfer payments which were payments from the lifetime rich to the lifetime poor in  (a) 1992,  (b) 1997,  (c) 2001 and  (d) 2006.

Stephen Timms: No such estimate has been made.

Social Security Benefits: Children

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax has been collected under Chapter 8 of Part 2 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 since the introduction of the legislation; and how many taxpayers have been liable for tax as a result of being in deemed employment within the meaning of that chapter.

Edward Balls: Those covered by the Intermediaries legislation are required to register with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) as employers and to operate PAYE/NIC on actual and deemed payments of employment income to workers. HMRC does not routinely collect data in respect of specific types of employer from PAYE/NIC returns. As such it is not possible to isolate data relating solely to this legislation.

Tax Credits: Overpayments

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many personal visits were made by officials to tax credit claimants prior to court summons being issued for the recovery of overpayments in each  (a) year,  (b) quarter and  (c) month since April 2003.

John Healey: The information requested is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost, but HMRC's policy is to attempt to make personal contact in all cases before legal proceedings are considered including at least one visit to the last known address of the claimant.

Taxation

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax repayment claim forms were sent  (a) automatically and  (b) after case review by officials to regular claimants in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The total number of tax repayment claim forms issued automatically by HM Revenue and Customs, to customers who have claimed repayment in the previous year, since 2000-01 (the data are not held for earlier years) is as follows.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2000-01 567,302 
			 2001-02 524,140 
			 2002-03 442,579 
			 2003-04 380,033 
			 2004-05 368,103 
			 2005-06 357,889 
			 2006-07 324,601 
		
	
	The reduction in the numbers of claim forms issued reflects an increase in the number of eligible people who have completed an R85 form to receive their bank and building society interest without any tax deductions.
	In addition, HM Revenue and Customs also issue tax repayment claim forms on request (no data are held on the number issued each year).

Taxation: Aviation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the risk of going into liquidation for small tour operators as a result of costs imposed by air passenger duty; and what steps he is taking to prevent this.

John Healey: No formal assessment has been conducted. Some small tour operators have written to the Chancellor about the Government's decision, but I am not aware that any have expressed a risk of insolvency.
	No provision exists to extend Government help in these specific circumstances and it is doubtful whether it would be legal to distinguish between operators in this way or to offer assistance to the sector under EU state aid rules.

Taxation: Quarrying

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal incentives are in place to discourage quarrying and promote the use of alternative raw materials to protect the environment.

John Healey: The aggregates levy ensures that the external costs associated with exploitation of aggregate are reflected in the price of aggregate. The price increase reduces demand for and encourages efficient use of freshly quarried aggregate materials.
	The levy is also structured to promote use of alternatives to virgin aggregates from more sustainable sources, such as recycled demolition waste and slate waste, by granting these materials exemption from the levy.
	The levy is part of a package of environmental measures (including the landfill tax and climate change levy) designed to encourage more efficient processes, environmental awareness and sustainable development. Research shows the levy, as part of this package, is helping to meet the Government's policy aims. For example, Great Britain has seen a reduction in sales of virgin aggregate by around 18 million tonnes between 2001 and 2005 and an increase in the use of recycled aggregate in England of around 5.5 million tonnes.

Taxation: Small Businesses

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the reasons were for the change in small and medium companies' tax rates in 2008 announced in the last Budget; and what assessment he has made of the impact of those changes on their competitiveness.

John Healey: Paragraphs 3.11 to 3.39 in Chapter 3 of Budget 2007 available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget/budget_07/report/bud_budget07_repindex.cfm
	outline the rationale for the major business tax reforms announced at the Budget, including those that impact on small and medium companies, and details how these reforms will help to boost the growth, productivity and international competitiveness of businesses in the UK.

Teenage Pregnancy: Suffolk

David Ruffley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many girls under the age of 16 years  (a) became pregnant and  (b) gave birth in (i) Bury St. Edmunds constituency and (ii) Suffolk county council area in each of the last 10 years, broken down by age.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 1 May 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many girls under the age of 16 years (a) became pregnant and (b) gave birth in (i) Bury St. Edmunds constituency and (ii) Suffolk County Council area in each of the last 10 years, broken down by age. I am replying in her absence. (134691)
	Numbers of conceptions in Suffolk County for the years 1996-2005 (the most recent year for which figures are available) are shown in the table below. Figures for 2005 are provisional.
	Figures on under 16 pregnancies are estimated using the number of conceptions that resulted in a live birth, stillbirth or legal termination.
	Information on conceptions is routinely published for local authorities and strategic health authorities. Figures cannot be provided by parliamentary constituency because of the risk of disclosing individual's information, due to small differences between the parliamentary constituency and local authority boundaries.
	ONS does not publish figures by single year of age below the age of 16 by either local or health authority because of the risk of disclosing individual's information.
	Numbers of maternities in Suffolk County for the years 1996-2005 are shown in the table below.
	Maternity counts are for girls aged under 16 in each year at which either one or more live birth or stillbirth occurred.
	Birth figures cannot be provided for Bury St. Edmunds parliamentary constituency for the same reason as provided for conceptions.
	
		
			  Number of conceptions and maternities to girls aged under 16, Suffolk, 1996-2005 
			   Conceptions  Maternities 
			 1996 82 12 
			 1997 89 12 
			 1998 71 12 
			 1999 58 14 
			 2000 62 5 
			 2001 73 12 
			 2002 75 13 
			 2003 93 19 
			 2004 73 12 
			 2005(1) 73 9 
			 (1) Conceptions for 2005 are provisional.

VAT

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the impact on VAT receipts of the changes set out in schedule 3 of the Finance Bill 2007.

John Healey: The net yield from the changes set out in schedule 3 of the Finance Bill 2007 is set out at Table A2 of the Budget 2007 book.

VAT: Disabled

Roger Berry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make goods and services for the exclusive personal use of disabled people eligible for VAT relief.

John Healey: There is a wide range of goods and services supplied to disabled people for their personal use on which VAT is not chargeable. This includes certain building alterations to a disabled person's home, wheelchairs and mobility scooters, and equipment designed solely for use by a disabled person.
	Under the VAT agreements with our European partners, signed by successive Governments, we can retain our existing VAT zero rates, but we may not extend them or introduce new ones. It is therefore not possible to remove VAT from additional goods and services purchased for the exclusive personal use of a disabled person.
	More generally, the Government are carefully considering evidence presented in the recent Low Incomes Tax Reform Group's report VAT and disabled peoplethe case for removing the barriers, and will assess whether any of the recommended VAT changes, including new reduced rates, would be consistent with our European VAT agreements and well-targeted and cost-effective when compared with the range of support already provided for people with disabilities.

VAT: Turbines

Greg Knight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to remove VAT from domestic wind turbines generating green energy.

John Healey: holding answer 24 April 2007
	Under the VAT agreements with our European partners, signed by successive Governments, we can retain our existing VAT zero rates, but we may not extend them or introduce new ones. It is therefore not possible to remove VAT entirely from domestic wind turbines.
	Under the same European agreements, a reduced rate of VAT of not less than 5 per cent. is available for the construction, renovation and alteration of housing provided as part of a social policy. We have used this provision to introduce a reduced rate of VAT for the installation by contractors of a range of energy-saving and energy-efficient products and microgeneration technologies, including solar panels and wind turbines, in houses and other residential accommodation.

Welfare Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how may tax credit recipients have not received one or more payments as scheduled in April 2007 as a result of renewing awards in the new tax year 2007-08;
	(2)  whether guidance has been circulated to HM Revenue and Customs staff centrally and in local HM Revenue and Customs offices on issuing interim manual payments to tax credit recipients who have not received one or more payments as a result of renewing awards in the new tax year 2007-08.

Stephen Timms: I am not aware of any claimants not receiving payments scheduled in April 2007 as a result of them renewing their tax credit award for the tax year 2007-08.

Welfare Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how may tax credit recipients did not receive one or more payments in  (a) April 2006,  (b) April 2005 and  (c) April 2004 as a result of renewing awards at the beginning of each new tax year.

Stephen Timms: This information is not available.

Welfare Tax Credits

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether people of whom HM Revenue and Customs have no records and who illegally pay no tax are included within the estimates of those entitled to receive tax credits in the Family Resource Survey cited in HM Revenue and Customs' Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit Take-up rates 2004-05;
	(2)  whether the figures in the HM Revenue and Customs document Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit Take-up rates 2004-05 take account of an estimate of  (a) the amounts which were fraudulently claimed and  (b) the number of couples fraudulently claiming to be lone parents.

Stephen Timms: The methodology used by HMRC in producing the child and working tax credits take-up statistics is detailed in pages 13 to 17 of the HMRC publication Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit Take-up Rates 2004-05, which is available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-take-up.htm
	The number of recipients of tax credits is drawn from HMRC administrative data. HMRC have a range of compliance processes in place to ensure that only claims from those eligible for tax credits are put into payment. This includes cross checking income information from the tax credit claim form against other HMRC systems.
	The number of entitled non-recipients of tax credits is estimated from the Family Resources Survey and the British Household Panel Survey. Survey data received by HM Revenue and Customs are anonymised. It is not therefore possible to establish whether particular families are non-compliant with respect to tax or tax credits.
	The methodology minimises the effect of non- compliance on the take-up rate figures as the recipient population is included both in the numerator and denominator of the calculation.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Climate, Energy and Security

Desmond Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the levels of support among the permanent members of the UN Security Council for discussing the relationship between climate and energy security.

Ian McCartney: Without support from all the permanent members of the Security Council the debate on climate, energy and security could not have taken place. There was some procedural opposition, based upon perceptions of the role of the Security Council versus the General Assembly, but there is growing international acceptance of the relationship between climate, energy and security, as shown by China's recognition during the debate that climate change had security implications.

Iran

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on Iran's nuclear programme.

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on Iran's nuclear programme.

Kim Howells: We remain very concerned about Iran's nuclear programme. The United Nations has imposed sanctions on Iran to persuade them to suspend their proliferation-sensitive activities and return to negotiations on the basis of proposals we presented to Iran last June. This would give Iran everything it needs to develop a state of the art civil nuclear industry, and wider benefits, in a way that addresses the concerns of the international community.

Darfur

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the security situation in the Darfur region.

Ian McCartney: Security remains precarious. Humanitarian agencies face increasing banditry. The Sudanese Government resumed bombing villages in Darfur last week, resulting in a number of civilian injuries and deaths. We condemn these attacks, which show little regard for human life. They violated UN Security Council Resolution 1591 and must cease immediately. All sides to the conflict must commit to the peace process or face further measures in the Security Council. The Government remain actively engaged on this issue at the highest levels. I raised our concerns with the Sudanese Justice Minister while at the Human Rights Council in March.

Darfur

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the security situation in the Darfur region.

Ian McCartney: Security remains precarious. Humanitarian agencies face increasing banditry. The Sudanese Government resumed bombing villages in Darfur last week, resulting in a number of civilian injuries and deaths. We condemn these attacks, which show little regard for human life. They violated UNSCR 1591 and must cease immediately. All sides to the conflict must commit to the peace process or face further measures in the Security Council.

Iraqi Kurdistan

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the social, political and economic development of Iraqi Kurdistan since 1990; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The social, political and economic development in the Kurdish region since 1990, following the establishment of the no-fly zone and the formation of the Kurdish Regional Government and National Assembly, has helped to foster a more developed economy than in other parts of Iraq.
	The provinces of Erbil, Dohuk and Suleymaniyah that the Kurdish regional government administers enjoy moderate stability. Security is better than in the rest of Iraq.

EU Foreign Minister

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions she has had with the German Chancellor on proposals for an EU Foreign Minister.

Geoff Hoon: I have had regular discussions with my German colleagues during their presidency. So too has my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, who met Chancellor Merkel most recently on 24 April.
	Our discussions cover many issues, including the way forward on institutional reform. There is no consensus at present among EU partners on this issue. We will discuss it at the European Council in June.

Sheikh Hasina

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations she has made to the Bangladeshi Government on the position of Sheikh Hasina.

Kim Howells: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave her today (UIN 134701).

Afghanistan: Peace Keeping Operations

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she expects the European Union Security and Defence Policy policing mission to Afghanistan to be launched; and what decisions have been made about the UK contribution to the mission.

Margaret Beckett: The European Union Security and Defence Policy policing mission to Afghanistan is scheduled to be launched in June. The mission will be staffed by approximately 160 personnel, of which the UK plans to contribute about 10 per cent.

Afghanistan: Peace Keeping Operations

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role she expects the European Union Security and Defence Policy policing mission to Afghanistan to play in the field of counter- narcotics; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The European Union Security and Defence Policy policing mission to Afghanistan aims to raise the quality of policing in Afghanistan. The mission contains an objective to integrate the Counter-Narcotics Police of Afghanistan into the wider police force in order to factor counter-narcotics into all law enforcement efforts.

Business: Corruption

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which UK officials attended the last three meetings of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions.

Ian McCartney: Each meeting of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Working Group on Bribery takes place over three days. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) leads the UK delegation and not all UK officials attend every session of each meeting. In total, the following UK officials attended the last three meetings:
	The October 2006 meeting was attended by one official from the FCO; one from the City of London Police; one from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS); one from the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).
	The January meeting was attended by three officials from the FCO; one from the Attorney General's Office; three from the SFO; one from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Police; two from the CPS; one from the City of London Police; one from the Home Office (HO).
	The March meeting was attended by four officials from the FCO; one from the Attorney General's Office; two from the SFO; one from the CPS; one from the MOD Police; two from the City of London Police; one from the HO; one from the Department for International Development.

Business: Corruption

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the  (a) Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and  (b) OECD member states on the publicisation of the work of the OECD Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions as it affects investigations in the UK.

Ian McCartney: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Working Group on Bribery regularly publicises aspects of its work, for example by press statements on the group's country monitoring reports. Such press statements are discussed and agreed in plenary by all members of the group. However, the group operates under an understanding that the country being monitored has the right to comment on the text, but foregoes its right to block the final text.
	As the hon. Member is aware, recent meetings of this group in January and March have discussed, among other subjects, the circumstances surrounding the discontinuance of the Serious Fraud Office's investigation into allegations about BAE Systems' activities in Saudi Arabia. At the end of both the January and March meetings, the group agreed a press statement on the UK under the established procedure described above. In the run-up to and during these meetings, British officials discussed with the OECD Secretariat and partner OECD Governments various relevant aspects including possible options for press communications, and how those might be organised. This included proposals for a formal press briefing at the end of the March meeting.
	Since the March meeting of the Working Group, there have been no formal press communications proposed. British officials have therefore made no further representations concerning the group's media activities.

Chad: Peacekeeping Operations

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the proposals for a United Nations peacekeeping force in Chad and the Central African Republic.

Ian McCartney: We remain very concerned about the humanitarian and security situation in Eastern Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR) and the spill over of violence from Darfur. On 16 April my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary called for UN Security Council agreement to a UN peacekeeping operation in Chad, as called for under UN Security Council Resolution 1706.
	We are working with the UN and partners on the Security Council to seek to address any concerns raised by the Governments of Chad and CAR about the possible deployment of a UN peacekeeping force. We continue to urge the Government of Chad to improve regional security and work actively with non-governmental organisations operating in the region.

Departments: Official Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 17 April 2007,  Official Report, columns 564-65W, on Departments: official hospitality, how much the Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine has advised her Department to be a suitable expenditure on stock for  (a) the Government cellar and  (b) other hospitality for which her Department is responsible in each of the last three years.

Geoff Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 14 July 2006,  Official Report, columns 2137-38W. The Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine (GHACPW) advises Government Hospitality according to the requirements of the Government cellar, wine market prices, the availability of individual wines and vintages and their quality. The GHACPW does not determine the level of expenditure on wines and spirits; that is the responsibility of the head of Government Hospitality. The GHACPW does not provide advice on expenditure for the purchase of wine for other hospitality carried out by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Departments: Paper

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of paper used  (a) for photocopying and  (b) in printed publications by her Department was from recycled sources in each of the last three years.

Geoff Hoon: 100 per cent. of copier paper purchased by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) through contracts is from recycled sources. This was the case in each of the last three years.
	In each of the past three years, one hundred per cent of paper used in printed publications purchased through contracts used by the FCO was from recycled sources.
	Statistics are not available for paper that was not purchased through contracts. This is because the FCO's overseas missions have the ability to procure their paper locally where this offers the best overall value for money.

Dhabihu'llah Mahrami

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received of the expropriation of the home of Mr. Dhabihu'llah Mahrami, who died in prison in Iran on 15 December 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We have not received reports of the expropriation of the home of Mr. Dhabihu'llah Mahrami, but we are prepared to take further action as appropriate.
	We understand that Mr. Mahrami died in custody on 15 December 2005. Mr. Mahrami's case had previously appeared on the EU list of cases of concern used in the EU-Iran Human Rights Dialogue. The EU raised the death of Mr. Mahrami in a meeting with the Iranian authorities on 31 January 2006 and handed over a note verbale requesting further information.
	We continue to have concerns about the situation of religious minorities in Iran and treatment of the Baha'i community in particular. We often receive reports of discrimination against Baha'is in Iran.
	We continue to press the Iranian authorities to take seriously their international human rights obligations, uphold the right to freedom of religion and belief, as described in Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and address the discrimination suffered by Iranian Baha'is. The UN General Assembly Resolution about the human rights situation in Iran, adopted in December 2006 and co-sponsored by the EU, expressed serious concern at
	the disregard of property rights, including through de facto expropriation as noted in the report of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing
	and
	the escalation and increased frequency of discrimination and other human rights violations against members of the Baha'i Faith.

Embassies: Closures

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which UK  (a) embassies and  (b) consulates have been closed in each of the last three years.

Geoff Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has closed nine embassies and high commissions over the last three years. Fifteen consulates have been closed over the same period of time. These missions are listed in the following table. In addition, six commercial and information offices, staffed by locally engaged staff were also closed.
	The FCO continuously reviews the deployment of its resources and aligns them flexibly in line with UK interests to the benefit of the British taxpayer.
	
		
			  Missions closed 
			  Year: 1 April to 31 March  Embassies/High Commissions  Consulates 
			 2004-05  Douala(1), Tarawa(1) and Oporto 
			 2005-06 Nassau, Abidjan(2), Maseru, Antananarivo, Asuncion, Mbabane, Nuku' alofa and Port Vila Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Fukuoka(1), Dallas, San Juan(1) and Aden(1) 
			 2006-07 Dili Adelaide(1), Hamburg, Nagoya, Kingstown(1), Gothenburg and Seattle(1) 
			 (1 )Consulates staffed by locally engaged staff only.  (2 )Operations at this embassy have been suspended due to the uncertain security situation in the Ivory Coast.

Ethiopia: Arms Trade

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what responses she has received on Ethiopia's arms trade with North Korea; what assessment she has made of whether that trade is compliant with UN Security Council Resolution 1718; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions she has had with her US counterpart on Ethiopia's arms trade with North Korea; what the outcome was of those discussions; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: We are in contact with US and other counterparts about issues relating to the enforcement of UN Security Council Resolution 1718, including Ethiopia's arms trade with North Korea. We continue to support vigorous implementation of the measures in the resolution and the work of the Security Council's Sanctions Committee for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in monitoring implementation and compliance.

Foreign Policy

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what units, working groups or task forces her Department has established in the last 12 months on the future direction of the Government's foreign policy; which officials have been appointed to those groups; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: No such units, working groups, or task forces have been established in the last 12 months in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). We have, however, reconstituted the FCO's Policy Planning Staff, a strengthened successor to the Strategic Policy Team. They, and others in the FCO, contributed significantly to the Britain in the World exercise, part of the Pathways to the Future Policy Review, which examined the challenges we face internationally and considered how we can be more effective in achieving our international objectives going forward.

Iran: Discrimination

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the adverse treatment by teachers and school administrators in Iran of children belonging to the Baha'i faith; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We continue to have concerns about the situation of religious minorities in Iran and treatment of the Baha'i community in particular.
	We have received some reports from the National Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom about persecution of Baha'i school children and are currently trying to find out more information about these serious claims. We will take further action as appropriate.
	We continue to raise the situation of religious minorities bilaterally, and through the EU, and have pressed the Iranian authorities on many occasions to take seriously their international human rights obligations, uphold the right to freedom of religion and belief as described in Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and address the intimidation and discrimination suffered by Iranian Baha'is. We also take action at the UN and in December 2006, we along with all EU countries, co-sponsored a resolution on human rights in Iran which expressed serious concern at
	the escalation and increased frequency of discrimination and other human rights violations against members of the Baha'i Faith.

Iran: Discrimination

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government have made representations to the Iranian authorities on the treatment of the Baha'i faith and the Baha'i community by leading Iranian media outlets; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We continue to have concerns about the situation of religious minorities in Iran, and treatment of the Baha'i community in particular. We regularly receive reports of intimidation and discrimination against Baha'is in Iran.
	We remain concerned about reports that Iranian newspapers including Keyhan have been carrying out a propaganda campaign against the Baha'i community. We raised our concerns about this in an EU demarche on 11 April 2006, and on 10 April 2006, EU Foreign Ministers underlined their
	continued concerns about the human rights situation in Iran, in particular regarding the situation of the Baha'is.
	We continue to raise the situation of the Baha'is with the Iranian authorities, bilaterally and through the EU. We also take action at the UN and in December 2006, we along with all EU countries, co-sponsored a resolution on human rights in Iran, which expressed serious concern at
	the escalation and increased frequency of discrimination and other human rights violations against members of the Baha'i Faith.

Iraq: Casualties

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British civilians are known to have suffered injury in Iraq since the beginning of March 2003.

Kim Howells: Our consular records show that at least 47 civilians entitled to consular assistance have been hospitalised, reported as injured and medivaced since March 2003. This is not a definitive figure as records include only those cases where consular assistance has been sought.

Iraq: Casualties

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made on the Government's discussions with the Iraqi government on the release of accurate and up-to-date figures on civilian deaths in Iraq.

Margaret Beckett: The Government do not collate figures for civilian casualties in Iraq. Both the Iraqi Ministries of Interior and Health published figures in January, but there is no 100 per cent. reliable and accurate assessment of casualties in Iraq. Estimates of the numbers of civilian deaths vary according to the methods used. We continue to press the Iraqi government to release the most up-to-date figures.
	According to figures released by the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior on 2 January, 12,320 civilians were killed during 2006. The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq estimates that 34,452 civilians were killed in 2006, on the basis of information obtained through the Iraqi Health Ministry, hospitals and the Medico-Legal Institute in Baghdad. No further figures are currently available.

Iraq: Police

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made since July 2006 on achieving the milestones for police reform in the Iraqi provinces of  (a) Al Basrah,  (b) Al Muthanna,  (c) Dhi Qar and  (d) Maysan; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: Since my reply to the hon. Member on 25 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1267W, the following progress has been made against milestones.
	In Basra, there has been progress against milestones for police training, infrastructure and operational capability. 87 per cent. of police are now trained (increase from 63 per cent.) and the majority of training is now carried out by the Iraqis. Over 80 per cent. of police stations in Basra city are assessed as being largely or fully capable of carrying out their duties. The notorious 'Serious Crimes Unit' was disbanded by the December 2006 operation and a functioning Department of Internal Affairs has been established to investigate, arrest and prosecute corrupt police officers. Significant challenges do remain with the Basra police and we will continue to engage in reform activity.
	The provinces of Dhi Qar(1) and Maysan have been approved for transfer to Provincial Iraqi Control and were transferred on 21 September 2006 and 18 April 2007 respectively. The police forces in these provinces are now fully equipped and are judged by the National Civilian Policing Assistance Training Team as being largely capable.
	(1 )The Italian contingent of Multi-National Force-Iraq has always had responsibility for police assistance in Dhi Qar province.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she expects to reply to the letter of 1 March from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on Dr. Elizabeth Thomas.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	A reply was sent on 30 March 2007.

Ministerial Changes

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether her Department has undertaken work in preparation for a change of Prime Minister; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's objective is to deliver the foreign policy priorities of the elected Government over the course of a Parliament, and that is what it is focusing on.

North Korea: Arms Trade

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate she has made of the extent of North Korea's arms trade; which countries North Korea  (a) exports arms to and  (b) imports arms from; what discussions she has had with her United Nations counterparts on this issue; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) does not publish details of its arms exports and imports. However, independent organisations publish estimates, for example the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which gives estimates of the DPRK's arms imports and exports for 1995-2005.
	The DPRK is considered to be the world's most prolific supplier of ballistic missiles and related technology to countries of concern. During negotiations for the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1718, the UK discussed with international partners in the UN ways to curb the DPRK proliferation of missiles and weapons of mass destruction-related materials around the world. UNSCR 1718, adopted in October 2006, imposes a ban on the export to the DPRK of nuclear and ballistic-missile goods and technologies, a ban on the export of arms to the DPRK, a ban on technical assistance and advice related to all these items and a ban on the export by the DPRK of proliferation-sensitive goods and technologies. The UK and its partners will continue to urge the DPRK to comply with UNSCR 1718 and resume its obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

North Korea: UN Resolutions

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of international compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1718, on North Korea; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The UN Security Council's Sanctions Committee for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea meets regularly, in accordance with its mandate under UN Security Council Resolution 1718. Part of its mandate is to seek information from all states on implementation. On 16 April the Committee reported to the Security Council that 68 countries had submitted reports on their progress on implementation of the resolution. We continue to support the work of the Sanctions Committee in monitoring implementation of, and compliance with, the resolution.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was allocated to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development by the Government in each of the last three years; what commitments regarding future funding have been entered into; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) contributed:
	
		
			
			 2006 11,190,557.70 
			 2005 10,994,179.04 
			 2004 10,515,959.77 
		
	
	to the Part I (core) budget of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which funds the work of OECD committees and to which all member states contribute. As agreed with the OECD, the FCO pays these contributions quarterly, though the cost in sterling varies, owing to exchange rate fluctuations. The FCO contributes separately to budgets to cover the redevelopment costs of the OECD's Paris headquarters, pensions, and publications.
	In 2007, UK assessed contributions for Part I amount to 11,354,731.20. As the OECD's budget is agreed bi-annually, we are committed to paying the same amount as in 2007 plus a nominal 1 per cent. increase in 2008. However, the exact figure will only be known in January 2008 as it depends on the UK's share of the overall OECD budget, which is calculated annually based on the size of member states' gross domestic product.
	These totals exclude UK contributions to Part II organisations, such as the International Energy Agency or the Sahel Club, as well as voluntary payments for specific areas of OECD work, which individual Government Departments pay directly periodically. The figures in the table denote the total voluntary contributions to Part I of the OECD budget by all UK Government Departments:
	
		
			   ()  Contributions 
			 2006 3,850,246 38 
			 2005 2,705,040 31 
			 2004 3,103,409 27

Pakistan: Frontiers

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with her counterpart in Pakistan on the landmining of the country's border with Afghanistan.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed this subject with President Musharraf in Pakistan on 26 February. The UK recognises the efforts being made by Pakistan to curb cross-border infiltration across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. The UK position on the use of landmines, however, is well known and we urge Pakistan to find solutions with less destructive long-term humanitarian consequences. We note that President Musharraf announced on 2 February that he has decided for the time being not to mine the border.

Panjab Singh

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps her Department has taken on behalf of British citizen Panjab Singh following his complaint of ill-treatment by the Indian authorities during his arrest and detention.

Kim Howells: We are aware of the allegations of ill-treatment Mr. Singh has made. We take all such allegations by British nationals very seriously. We are obtaining the specific details of the allegations from Mr. Singh and will be taking these forward with the Indian authorities.

Shiekh Hasina

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she is taking to clarify with the Government in Bangladesh the position of Sheikh Hasina.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised the position of Sheikh Hasina with Dr. Iftekhar Chowdhury, Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser on 19 April. I note that the caretaker Government have since lifted the restriction on Sheikh Hasina's return to Bangladesh.

Sudan: Human Rights

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Council High Level Mission to Sudan.

Ian McCartney: The High Level Mission on Human Rights in Darfur reported gross and systematic violations of human rights and breaches of international humanitarian law in Darfur. The report recommended more effective protection through: the deployment of the UN/African Union peacekeeping force and more human rights monitors; a ceasefire and negotiated peace; effective delivery of humanitarian assistance and on-going donor support; and tackling impunity, including through Government of Sudan co-operation with the International Criminal Court.
	Following the report's publication I, and the UK Permanent Representative to the Human Rights Council (HRC), called on the Council to take effective action on Darfur and support the report's recommendations. I made clear to the Sudanese Justice Minister that it was unacceptable that Sudan had not co-operated with the High Level Mission.
	The UK, with our EU Partners, played a key role in getting the HRC to adopt a resolution on 30 March supporting the implementation of the Mission's recommendations. The resolution created a mechanism to ensure the Government of Sudan implement all existing UN recommendations on human rights in Darfur, and for a further report on human rights in Darfur to be presented to the fifth session of the HRC, 11-18 June.

Sudan: Peace Keeping Operations

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely levels of co-operation of the Government of Sudan with the UN/AMIS peacekeeping force for Darfur.

Ian McCartney: The Government of Sudan have agreed to the Heavy Support Package of United Nations' support to the African Union (AU). But this is only a step towards the joint UN-AU hybrid operation needed to provide protection to Darfur's citizens. The Government of Sudan must agree to the hybrid force and co-operate fully with its implementation. If they do not honour their commitments we are prepared to introduce tougher measures.

Sudan: Peace Keeping Operations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will discuss the setting up of an AU-UN force operational within Darfur with the Chinese Government.

Ian McCartney: We regularly discuss Darfur with the Chinese Government including at the UN. We want China to use its considerable influence with the Sudanese Government to help ensure Khartoum supports deployment of the joint African Union/UN peacekeeping in Darfur, as well as a ceasefire and renewed political process. We gave this message to the Chinese Government before President Hu's visit to Africa earlier this year. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister also raised Darfur on 23 April, during his recent visit to China.

Sudan: Peace Keeping Operations

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the capacity of the French air force in Chad to monitor a no-fly zone over Darfur.

Ian McCartney: We have not made a military assessment of the French air force's capacity in Chad to monitor a no-fly zone over Darfur. The French military have long-standing ties with Chad and any such measure would also require the Chadian Government's consent.
	We remain deeply concerned by the situation in Darfur. We are discussing new measures in the UN Security Council. They could include measures to allow better air monitoring of the violence in Darfur and the possibility of imposing a no-fly-zone.

UN Human Rights Council

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the decision in March by the UN Human Rights Council to end its scrutiny of Iran and Uzbekistan; and whether the UK has made representations to the Council on the decision.

Margaret Beckett: At its fourth session, 12-30 March 2007, the UN Human Rights Council discontinued consideration of specific cases relating to Iran and Uzbekistan under its confidential complaints procedure. The confidential nature of that procedure prevents us from commenting on any details of the cases, and on the position taken by the UK. We do, however, emphasise strongly our deep concern over persistent violations of human rights in both Uzbekistan and Iran, and our corresponding belief that the UN should address these situations. For that reason, the UK co-sponsored the resolution passed by the UN General Assembly last autumn on the human rights situation in Iran; and the attempted resolution on the human rights situation in Uzbekistan, which unfortunately failed to pass a vote in the General Assembly's Third Committee, also last autumn. The independent UN Special Rapporteurs on human rights questions have frequently commented on issues in Iran and Uzbekistan in the course of their work; that work continues.

Whales: Conservation

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps her Department has taken to promote internationally the publication Protecting Whales: A Global Responsibility from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Margaret Beckett: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office initially distributed copies of the publication to 57 posts, in countries identified as being particularly important in the run-up to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) 59. In consultation with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, we shall be distributing more widely to include posts accredited to all IWC member countries and others where there may be value in doing so.

World Bank

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with her international counterparts concerning the World Bank president; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: UK policy on the World Bank is the responsibility of the Department for International Development. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development is the UK representative on the World Bank Board of Governors.